气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors

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DOI	10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113511
	Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors
	Lindley, Ben; Roulstone, Tony; Locatelli, Giorgio; Rooney, Matt
发表日期	2023
ISSN	0301-4215
EISSN	1873-6777
卷号	177 页码:10
英文摘要	Driven from investments toward net zero transition global interest in fusion energy is growing. This policy perspective addresses challenges for its commercialization, given the potentially long timeframe to deployment and competing/complementary technologies. We focus on magnetically confined fusion power, specifically tokamaks, as the route to commercialization is clearer and there is some cost data available. For fusion to be competitive beyond 2040, costs will likely need to be at or below similar to$80-100/MWh at 2020 price. This will be hard to achieve for early fusion designs both small or large, for which modelling shows energy costs will be greater than $150/MWh even accounting for production learning. This is due to the low power availability from pulsed operation; frequent replacement of vessel components; and low efficiency power cycles. Technology improvements to improve both cycle efficiency and power availability, along with production stan-dardization and long-life components, have the potential to reduce generation costs and enable magnetically confined fusion to be commercially viable. We therefore recommend focusing commercialization efforts on plants with higher thermal efficiency and potential for higher availability as these maximize the probability of fusion energy proving commercially viable. We also recommend that fusion energy be deployed within a proportionate regulatory regime that recognizes its relatively low radiological hazard. Finally, construction of fusion reactors should be planned in fleet/program terms, as commitment to constructing many units will be necessary for it to become commercially viable.
学科领域	Economics; Energy & Fuels; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies
语种	英语
WOS研究方向	Business & Economics ; Energy & Fuels ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
WOS记录号	WOS:000956611500001
来源期刊	ENERGY POLICY
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/272034
作者单位	University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University of Cambridge; Polytechnic University of Milan
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Lindley, Ben,Roulstone, Tony,Locatelli, Giorgio,et al. Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors[J],2023,177:10.
APA	Lindley, Ben,Roulstone, Tony,Locatelli, Giorgio,&Rooney, Matt.(2023).Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors.ENERGY POLICY,177,10.
MLA	Lindley, Ben,et al."Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors".ENERGY POLICY 177(2023):10.