Even if they get net energy generated (which may very well be possible but I’m skeptical), that’s still a very long path toward viable commercial generation at scale when you consider the supply chains you’d have to establish for stuff like tritium fuel cycles, all these special magnets, general manufacturing of reactor components and other infrastructure-esque issues. Not to mention, the kinds of materials that can withstand the radiation damage you’d have while the fusion reactor is in operation in the long term do not yet exist. Then if we’re talking about building any reactors in the US, we have to take into account the US’ abysmal record in building any kind of large infrastructure and factor in the (likely) overrun costs in construction.
And tbh, at this point, the LCOEs of even renewables+storage are becoming pretty viable so aside from the coolness factor, fusion might have some supporting role to play but I honestly just don’t find it that exciting anymore.
Even if they get net energy generated (which may very well be possible but I’m skeptical), that’s still a very long path toward viable commercial generation at scale when you consider the supply chains you’d have to establish for stuff like tritium fuel cycles, all these special magnets, general manufacturing of reactor components and other infrastructure-esque issues. Not to mention, the kinds of materials that can withstand the radiation damage you’d have while the fusion reactor is in operation in the long term do not yet exist. Then if we’re talking about building any reactors in the US, we have to take into account the US’ abysmal record in building any kind of large infrastructure and factor in the (likely) overrun costs in construction.
And tbh, at this point, the LCOEs of even renewables+storage are becoming pretty viable so aside from the coolness factor, fusion might have some supporting role to play but I honestly just don’t find it that exciting anymore.
Fin’s comment sums things up pretty well.
See more on the economics of fusion: https://wernerantweiler.ca/blog.php?item=2019-12-17