Summary Reader Response Draft #2

In the article, “How can Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition be sped up?”, Daubach (2019) highlighted a highly potential clean energy called nuclear fusion. According to Daubach, Moniz who is the Chief Executive of the Energy Futures Initiative and Nuclear Threat Initiative, states that Singapore, due to its limitation in space, can implement nuclear fusion. However, it is costly to adopt this energy by 2050 given that the Paris Agreement goal is met. Daubach also mentions that Chapman, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, states that nuclear fusion does not produce harmful gases, has lesser decay time of nuclear waste as compared to nuclear fission and only needs a small amount of land. The drawback is that a massive amount of heat and pressure is needed. In addition, the current facilities available are not capable of creating electricity on a large scale. The first nuclear fusion facility is expected to begin operation in 2025 and capable of catering energy for a medium-sized city.

Daubach raised awareness on the pros and cons of nuclear fusion but fails to address the reasons why potential stakeholders are very reluctant to consider it as a source of clean energy.

Daubach did not discuss the complications related to nuclear fusion which heavily deter potential stakeholders to implement it. One reason on why stakeholders are reluctant is the uncertainty in achieving this energy. Although scientists have taken multiple years of research to achieve this energy, there is no major breakthrough in producing it. As stated by McGrath (n.d.), nobody has yet to achieve more energy than the input used to produce it. Additionally, the first plasma is expected to be produced from the Iter project in 2025. This further supports the hesitancy in generating it due to doubts pertaining to producing it.

Another reason is the long planning and authorisation process to expect before the execution of construction. According to Jacobson (2019), the planning-to-operation (PTO) times of nuclear plants is around 10-19 years. The “time lag between planning and operation of a nuclear reactor includes the times to identify a site, obtain a site permit, purchase or lease the land, obtain a construction permit, obtain financing and insurance for construction, install transmission, negotiate a power purchase agreement, obtain permits, build the plant, connect it to transmission, and obtain a final operating license”. The Iter project itself is estimated to take ten years for construction only. Stakeholders would be more willing to invest in other renewable energy such as wind and solar energy as they will be able to reap the results earlier than nuclear fusion.

Lastly, facilities  other than the nuclear plant have to be considered for the generation of nuclear fusion energy. Massive amounts of heat will be released when producing this energy and these facilities will be needed to prevent meltdown. According to Jassby (2018), Iter will release the heat from cooling towers and use the cooling water flowing at a rate of 12 m3/s from Canal de Provence channelling water from the  Durance River. Iter also has huge concrete cylinders named the Bioshield that will stop radiation from being released into the environment. There is also a need to decommission nuclear waste that will add up to more than 300 million dollars. Due to the many considerations that have to be taken care of, nuclear fusion is seen as an unattractive source of renewable energy.

Based on the complications that were raised in this reader response, it is understandable why many stakeholders refuse to implement nuclear fusion. With these complications, it will be difficult to convince potential stakeholders in generating this energy. I feel that to convince these stakeholders, scientists have to think of ways to overcome these complications first. I am sure that with improvements, the transition to such energy will speed up.

Reference:

Daubach, T. (2019, July 19). How can Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition be Sped Up? Eco-Business. 

https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/

Jacobson, Z. (2019, June 20). The 7 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy is not the Answer to Solve Climate Change. Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation.

https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/the-7-reasons-why-nuclear-energy-is-not-the-answer-to-solve-climate-change/

Daniel, J. (2017, April 19). Fusion Reactors: Not what they’re Cracked Up to Be.  

https://thebulletin.org/2017/04/fusion-reactors-not-what-theyre-cracked-up-to-be/

Daniel, J. (2018, February 14). ITER is a Showcase … for the Drawbacks of Fusion Energy.

https://thebulletin.org/2018/02/iter-is-a-showcase-for-the-drawbacks-of-fusion-energy/