The sun’s energy and power is becoming better known as a process involving nuclear fusion. David Pretty, a scientist at the Australian National University’s national plasma fusion research facility is working with colleagues to discover the secrets needed to harness solar energy that can directly produce electricity to power our planet.

To non scientists this would seem an admirable project and one that would seem to be not before time but there are many difficulties before any anticipated success of the project that has limited national financial support.

It was a former South Australian governor Mark Oliphant, veteran of the Manhattan Project who discovered in 1932 when working at Cambridge, that the nuclei of atoms merge in fusion to form larger atoms capable of unleashing vast amounts of energy. Although there are small experimental reactors operating across the world , the public knows little of this work.

This line of science offers a potential for the use of hydrogen, ionised to form a plasma. The process generates little radioactive waste and what is created is short lived offering a wonderful, clean alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear fission.

The main example of enthusiastic efforts in this scientific method is current construction of an international fusion research facility in southern France through a consortium that includes the European Union, Japan, U.S., China, South Korea and India.

Australia so far is not prominent.

However, Dr. Pretty has faith in its future as he says in Weekend Australian Sept. 5-6 “When fusion power eventuates, it will be one of the greatest human achievements.”

 

Tags: not fission, power sources, safe power for future, solar power through fusion

Filed under: Solar Power by admin