Quokk.au£2.5 billion for prototype fusion energy plant
Prowww.gov.uk/government/news/25-billion-for-world…
The new prototype plant, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) will be built at the site of the former West Burton A coal power station near Retford and Gainsborough. The site was chosen by the government in 2022 as the location for the project, with the project’s delivery expected to create over 10,000 jobs ranging from construction to operations.
STEP works by combining hydrogen gases, deuterium and tritium, which are heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius and confined within a powerful magnetic field. The energy produced can then be used to create steam, to turn a turbine, generating electricity - just like in any conventional power plant.
Have I missed some news. Last I heard no one had gotten a positive output from fusion for more the a few seconds.
Is that no longer the case. Or is this 2.5b for an experiment that may not work?
Ah did a little googling myself. No expert. But for anyone else wondering.
Both is the answer
The first positive consistent fusion was achieved in 2022. So over COVID. I may have missed it due to hiding ;)
But yes this is experimental. But fully expected to be the first full scale power plant. So Def worth the UK gaining the experience and solving the issues.
It is not expected till 2040. So 2.5b is way less over 15 years then it seemed.
Yes, This is good. Energy independence is going to be the issue of the 21st century.