Speaking of wasting money …

[BeAChooser]

More Dishonest HYPE …

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technol ... r-AA17b5EK

Nuclear fusion could be powering British homes in just 15 years, making it the first country in the world to make energy from the process, ministers have said.

… snip …

Speaking on Monday at the West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire, Mr Freeman (BAC - the science minister) unveiled a new company which will be in charge of the nations drive to build the world’s first functions nuclear fusion power station.

… snip …

The timeline of completion (BAC - for STEP) by 2040 has always been regarded as optimistic but speaking at West Burton, where STEP will be built in place of a coal power plant, Mr Freeman signaled a desire to move even faster.

“We’ve decided to deploy into an industrial solution, not just to continually improve the science, but to be the first country to reply fusion as an energy source - the cleanest, greenest, quickest to generate and lowest cost energy for the 21st century,” he said.

Now mind you, I’ve already said the driver for this urgency is a mistaken belief in AGWalarmism. But he's also claiming their plant will be produce the lowest cost energy for the 21st century, which I’ve already shown is sheer poppycock … to use a nice English word.

As I’ve already shown earlier, on per kw electric cost basis, these STEP fusion plants will cost 4 to 17 times what the other power sources that are available cost to build. And the fuel is not going to be as cheap as they claim since they still haven’t figured out how to economically produce tritium.

George Freeman is lying to the UK’s citizens and the world. His degree is in GEOGRAPHY. His so-called expertise is in “life sciences”, simply because before entering Parliament he worked in the field of biomedical venture capital. He knows nothing about physics, energy or fusion. He's a political hack.

[BeAChooser]

https://www.ft.com/content/55bc9d43-126 ... 25ae712e23

Fusion energy breakthrough sparks calls for more government backing

Yes, folks, based on a government funded fusion experiment that took billions of YOUR dollars and half a century to finally get a somewhat positive result that has absolutely nothing to do with the way everyone else is pursuing fusion, the fusion industry (yes, there’s already a multi-billion dollar industry for something not yet in existence because there is money to be made) is calling for more money than they are already spending. You see, the elites who have invested in numerous fusion startups in the hope that they will own YOU when they finally achieve centralized fusion power, now want YOU, the taxpayer, to pay their private industry efforts as well. They want you to pay for your own enslavement by the elites.

And then on top of that, they continue to lie to potential investors, government yokels and the public. For example, the article states “even fusion’s most ardent supporters, who tout its potential to deliver abundant zero-carbon energy, say it will take at least a decade, and probably longer, to translate the NIF achievement into commercially viable power.” Sorry, but a "decade" is a gross understatement and as I said, the NIF *achievement* has nothing to do with the course already set for the development of commercial fusion.

The article says “sceptics joke that, at any given point in time, the dream is always ‘at least 30 years away’. Nevertheless, fusion executives hope the pace of progress can now accelerate.“ The only response to that should be skepticism ... because the NIF approach to fusion has nothing to do with ITER, STEP or any other on-going fusion efforts. Nothing learned in the NIF experiment will translate into something that will speed up those other efforts. It’s ALL hype and next to zero journalists are honest enough to note the obvious. Because they are either stupid or are in on the scam, just like the mainstream media is in on the scams being pushed by the astrophysics *industry*.

Now here’s their proposal FOR YOUR MONEY ...

Since the 1960s, when Soviet scientists fused atoms to generate energy for the first time, most fusion research has taken plan in publicly funded laboratories like the NIF, or the Joint European Torus in Oxford, England. In the past 20 years, such facilities have been complemented by a growing number of privately funded start-ups hoping to speed up the achievement of energy gain and, ultimately, of commercial fusion power. The FIA estimates that at least $5bn has been raised by private fusion companies, much of it in the past 18 months. So far, though, that funding has come largely from billionaire investors and venture capitalists. There has been little government support. At some point in every nascent industry, especially in the energy industry, which is so heavily influenced by public policy, the government comes in and puts its thumb on the scale.

That's what they always say. But the reality is that when government gets involved, government then mucks it up. Go ahead, folks, I challenge you to name one government program the last 50 years that has actually met its goals on time and in budget ...that hasn't become distracted by political agendas that have nothing to do with their goals ... that has been run in an efficient and cost effective manner? I don’t think you can.

Look at ITER, for instance. As the article points out, ITER’s “construction costs were initially estimated at €5bn but have risen to as much as €20bn.” Did you get that? They've increased to 4 times over the initial estimate. And actually, the different is more than that ... but the article isn't trying to be honest. Here’s their logic … “It was a mistake to just bet on one horse. … snip … You’ve got to bet on the race and then see who wins it.” Just think, folks … if those behind this article got their way, you poor taxpayers could have already been forced to pay for 5 ITER like efforts. They might already have spent over $100 billion of your money. But don’t worry … they think that there is still time to do it. They are counting on it ... and with all the graft and corruption in Washington and other governments around the world, it's just more of YOUR dollars, circling the drain. But hey, cheer up ... the debt doesn't matter any more. That's what politicos are now saying. I kid you not.

[BeAChooser]

Here’s a decent article on the progress of fusion efforts around the world …

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/busines ... ar-energy/

It gives a pretty good summary of the various efforts, indicates each one’s approach to producing fusion (although it doesn't explain them), and generally where they stand, progress wise. Of course, being a mainstream publication, the article doesn’t dare challenge the AGWalarmist urgency to go zero carbon. But at least the article doesn’t overhype the progress so far or promise commercial fusion in 10 years or 20 years like so many do.

In fact, the article states

But as exciting as it will be if the commercial players reach their goals, it is unlikely that fusion reactors will have significant presence on power grids before 2040, let alone deliver the world from carbon by 2050.

“It would be extremely premature to start putting fusion into electricity supply assumptions, at any point through the middle of this century,” analysts with the U.S. investment firm Raymond James Financial Inc. wrote in a December brief.

But even that date ASSUMES that the current machines actually work. Which they may not.

In any case, all the claims made in the press about fusion preventing the looming end of the world that AGWalarmists have predicted are nonsense. In other words, the race for fusion has been sold to each participating country's citizens with outright lies. And they can get away with that because there is no accountability in the world any more ... for ANYTHING. Just saying ...

[BeAChooser]

Another country joins the boondoggle …

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230223004500320

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday started preparations to begin building a nuclear fusion reactor after 2035 and produce electric power around 2050 in a bid to keep up with the intensifying international competition for the future clean and limitless energy, the science ministry said.

… snip …

Under the government-led long-term outline, approved by the national fusion commission Thursday, the concept of South Korea's first fusion reactor will have a capacity of 500 megawatt electrical, or 500 MWe, with a major radius of 7 meters, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

… snip …

"If ITER succeeds in substantiating the feasibility of fusion power generation around 2035-38, a fusion power plant will be likely available around 2050," Yoo Suk-jae, president of the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE), said in a press conference Wednesday.

… snip …

While carrying out basic scientific and engineering research, the government will form a task force to draw the broad outlines of function and form of a new fusion reactor later this year, and come up with a final design by 2035. If the reactor is constructed as planned, it will begin operations around 2050, the ministry added.

So BEFORE ITER demonstrates the feasibility (assuming it will), they will have a final design? LOL! Think about the logic of that, folks.

And then the article spouts this half truth …

The move came as research and investment into the safe, limitless zero-carbon energy have been heating up since U.S. scientists have achieved a net energy gain from a fusion reaction in late December.

How do you think most readers will take that statement? They’ll think US scientists produced more energy from the fusion reaction than was needed to create the reaction. But anyone who has read this thread knows that’s not true … not even close.

I’m telling you folks, this RUSH to fusion in the name of zero carbon and AGWalarmism is going to be hugely wasteful.

But hey … it’s your money. If you let it go on without complaining, you have no one to blame.

Meanwhile, note that South Korea is continuing to build more ordinary nuclear power plants, to add to the 25 they already have in operation. Whereas the US is shutting them down gambling all its marbles on untested and unrealistic technology expectations. But those involved are making lots of money. Who do you think is going to foot the bill for all this waste in the end? Three guesses ... and it won't be them. Just saying ...

[Cargo]

To throw some levity to the insanity, this pitch of lawn and sand could be yours for a the pittance of 27 Million US$.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inli ... k=sCfBgbZi

[BeAChooser]

To throw some levity to the insanity, this pitch of lawn and sand could be yours for a the pittance of 27 Million US$.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inli ... k=sCfBgbZi

Wow! That’s some pricy real-estate. And not more that a few feet above sea level right next to the ocean by the looks of it. It will be interesting to see whether an AGWalarmist buys it given that a study showed that Naples is in the top ten for cities to be underwater by 2100: https://www.fox4now.com/news/protecting ... er-by-2100 . This source (https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltre ... Table.html) indicates that the trend in Naples is a rise in sea level of 1 ft per century with a 95% confidence range of 0.14 feet per century. That seems reasonably consistent with this: https://www.vims.edu/research/products/ ... /index.php . Will fusion save that house!

[BeAChooser]

More shysters enter the fray …

https://www.yahoo.com/now/european-gaus ... 00122.html

THE EUROPEAN GAUSS FUSION INITIATIVE SEEKS TO USE MAGNETIC FUSION TO ENSURE A CLEAN AND SAFE ENERGY SUPPLY

Gauss Fusion GmbH is a greentech venture founded in 2022 by various European companies from Germany, France, Italy and Spain with extensive experience in fusion technology. In February 2023, Gauss Fusion completed a founders’ pre-seed financing round with €8 million in initial capital, marking a first milestone on the way to a clean and secure energy source to complement renewable energies.

The Gauss Fusion Initiative has set itself the goal of bringing the first European GW-class (electric) fusion power plant (Gauss GIGA fusion power plant) online by 2045.

This is nonsense. Claiming to bring a GIGAWATT fusion power plant on line by 2045, when the concept of a tokamak isn't even close to be proven and when that’s more than twice the wattage that anyone else is promising even later in time is a joke.

Developing clean and safe energy sources for a modern “net-zero” society is a key challenge of our time.

Blah blah blah … repeat the lie justifying this whole boondoggle.

The entirety of the energy supply cannot be covered by renewable energies alone, not least because of the space requirements and the natural fluctuations in the generation of solar and wind energy.

To suggest that renewables (wind and solar) will provide more than a fraction of our current energy needs is utter nonsense considering that all renewables together currently provide only a quarter of global energy generation. And the only reason the percentage is that high is that governments are ignoring the extra costs now being passed onto consumers or actively helping to mitigate those consumer costs with subsidies that end up as a tax on their citizens. The idea that they can eliminate fuels in the next 27 years is delusion of the first order. Or it's a knowing lie to see their agenda.

Under its motto of “Fusion with Integrity”, Gauss Fusion is pursuing the ambitious but realistic goal of providing green energy through magnetic fusion – without raising any false expectations.

“Fusion with Integrity”? LOL! They think they aren't raising false expectations with a promise to have gigawatt plants pumping energy into the grid by 2045? LOL! Who do these jokers think they’re fooling? .

Dr. Frank Laukien, co-founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Gauss Fusion GmbH, is all too aware of this: “To develop a European magnetic fusion power plant – and not just a pilot or demonstration plant – by 2045 is an ambitious but realistic goal”

LIAR. It’s not at all realistic.

that we can achieve not only thanks to our advanced technology, but also through our public-private partnership approach. We expect synergies to emerge from our industrial organizational structure and the cooperation with excellent scientists and institutes with substantial experience in magnetic fusion and plasma physics.”

Blah blah blah. Those are words without any substance. They are marketing tripe.

Frédérick Bordry, former Director of Accelerators and Technology and Honorary Member of CERN, adds: “Fusion on the Sun has been taking place for more than 4.5 billion years and is essential for life on earth. Reproducing it and controlling it in power plants would give us access to an important and sustainable source of decarbonized energy.”

"Reproducing it"? More nonsense. A tokamak clearly does NOT reproduce what happens in the sun. These people are shysters of the first order, set on one goal … to take the public and investors for all they are worth. Nice houses and lifestyles are their real goal.

“Ever since scientists in the US made an historic breakthrough in fusion in mid-December last year, when more energy was produced than consumed for the first time ever by fusing hydrogen isotopes, fusion has become the focus of political attention as a clean and safe source of energy. “

First, the US experiment had NOTHING to do with the tokamaks proposed by these characters. Second NIF's experiment did no produce more than the power that was consumed by the experiment. Not even close. This is just garbage to sell clueless investors so they’ll provide money that will make the shysters wealthy.

Frank Laukien: “I’m pleased that many political decision-makers in Germany, in other European countries, and the EU have recognized the opportunities offered by fusion energy, as we can see from the recent joint statement by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, made on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Élysée Treaty.”

Oh … so this has something to do with friendship between France and Germany? LOL!

Of course, modern day shysters have to have to have a fancy website. It’s required …

https://www.gauss-fusion.com

Mind you, they are a little late to the game. Which make the notion that they'll be first to reach the finish even more ludicrous.

And what’s really concerning is they claim that they’ll move at “venture speed”. I see a lot of money going down the drain.

[BeAChooser]

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news ... t-9302920/

New fusion plan will be more than just a new power plant, says Nottinghamshire County Council

… snip …

The major project, which aims to bring nuclear fusion energy to the decommissioned West Burton A power station, was confirmed in October.

The site was selected ahead of 15 other UK locations and is expected to bring more than £20bn and up to 10,000 jobs to the area once complete.

I’m confused by this statement. At first I thought they were saying the power plant will cost £20bn and require 10,000 jobs to build? But then I noticed the “once completed”? So it’s going to cost another £20bn once completed? And the 10000 jobs in the area will not be construction jobs, but service jobs to support the operation of the reactor? Perhaps the latter since the article says “the hub is expected to feature on-site businesses and industries relating to STEP fusion” and “an on-site skills centre to train people in the field.” Plus it will apparently require a “new railway station” that will “allow people to access thousands of new jobs. Sure … I imagine everyone is going to want to live near a fusion power plant. Who wouldn’t?

Now mind you, they’d sold the public on the idea that they know enough to proceed with building actual working £20bn (or is it £40bn) power plants. Yet, this article … https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/n ... -on-fusion … states that “The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Sheffield are partnering on technologies to propel fusion energy towards commercialisation. As part of the collaboration, Sheffield will appoint two new Chairs in fusion research.”

One Chair “will focus on ‘innovation in materials design and processing to improve powerplant performance and the decommissioning and recycling of new materials developed’.”  The other Chair will investigate “fundamental engineering challenges in the qualification of components, fabricated assemblies and systems for use within future fusion powerplants’.” They admit that “The challenge of how we test and qualify components for future use in a fusion environment is critical for the delivery of a fusion powerplant.” So there are still challenges to qualifying components and fabricating assemblies, but they're plowing ahead anyway, while promising the reactor will be built by 2040? Hmmmm.

And it " is also expected the two positions will attract collaborations from a wider range of industrial partners who will be able to sponsor students and work in partnership with them on research projects.” Research projects? Sounds like they already don’t trust their *Final Design* for the reactor.