Why fusion is the 'vaccine of climate change'

Episode 38 December 05, 2023 00:28:21
Why fusion is the 'vaccine of climate change'
Energy Transitions
Why fusion is the 'vaccine of climate change'

Dec 05 2023 | 00:28:21

/

Hosted By

Pamela Largue

Show Notes

Fusion energy has moved from the realm of science to being an energy force with tangible benefits to society.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions Podcast, Pamela Largue speaks to Christopher Mowry, CEO of Type One Energy and Chair of the Fusion Industry Association, about why he believes fusion is finally ready to take its place in the energy mix and why the power source is the ‘vaccine of climate change’.

“It causes me to consider how the world mobilised to develop a vaccine against Covid and when the chips were down, government worked with private sector and academia to produce in one year, something that usually takes a decade.”

Mowry explains that the technology exists, but as with the Covid response, we now need the social mobilisation and acknowledgement to really drive fusion acceptance and deployment.

“Theres no practical way to achieve net zero globally in the energy space without fusion being part of the future energy mix,” stated Mowry.

Despite the technological maturity, Mowry explains there are still policy and supply chain developments needed to make fusion a reality. However, he is optimistic that the first pilot fusion power plant under contract will be finalised by the end of this decade, putting fusion electrons on the power grid by the mid 2030s.

Other Episodes

Episode 24

August 15, 2023 00:25:56
Episode Cover

Overcoming funding pitfalls for net-zero projects

The built environment is one of the main sources of carbon emissions but it also provides one of the most opportune spaces for clean...

Listen

Episode 9

April 11, 2023 00:19:57
Episode Cover

Enabling flexibility with district self-balancing

District self-balancing: a way of coordinating flexible use of electricity loads, distributed generation and energy storage. Consumption balancing provides an interesting case study of...

Listen

Episode 2

February 14, 2023 00:20:19
Episode Cover

Weighing the true cost of carbon capture

With net zero requiring 7 billion tonnes of CO2 to be captured and stored annually by 2050, Ruth Herbert, CEO of CCSA, highlights the...

Listen