{"title":"Creating “Artificial Suns”: the Sino-Western race to master limitless clean energy through nuclear fusion","authors":"W. Wong","doi":"10.1108/aeds-03-2022-0035","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis paper aims to examine the intensifying efforts by China and the West to harness the clean, limitless energy of nuclear fusion. However, it argues that this “holy grail” of a fusion future is only achievable through an optimal combination of mission-oriented public–private cooperation and genuine intergovernmental cooperation.Design/methodology/approachThis study deploys a case-study approach, augmented by relevant literature, to analyse the advances in fusion technology.FindingsDespite purported recent advances in fusion technology, these advances remain largely “proof of concept” experiments rather than commercially viable technologies that enable us to truly harness the infinite power of these “artificial suns”. To achieve the moonshot goal of delivering practicable “net energy gain” from fusion power, this study advocates shedding hubristic political “one-upmanship” amongst rival governments. Further, it urges focussing the ingenuity, along with the financial and scientific resources of all stakeholders (both public and private) across the globe to bring about this “fusion dawn”. Moreover, efforts to deliver fusion power face significant competition from other clean energy sources (wind, solar power and nuclear fission reactors) that are not only technically far less challenging but also economically more viable with their declining cost structures.Originality/valueThis study is possibly one of the few social science papers that examines the prospect of clean, limitless fusion power along with the challenges it faces and its societal implications.","PeriodicalId":44145,"journal":{"name":"Asian Education and Development Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2022-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Asian Education and Development Studies","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/aeds-03-2022-0035","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to examine the intensifying efforts by China and the West to harness the clean, limitless energy of nuclear fusion. However, it argues that this “holy grail” of a fusion future is only achievable through an optimal combination of mission-oriented public–private cooperation and genuine intergovernmental cooperation.Design/methodology/approachThis study deploys a case-study approach, augmented by relevant literature, to analyse the advances in fusion technology.FindingsDespite purported recent advances in fusion technology, these advances remain largely “proof of concept” experiments rather than commercially viable technologies that enable us to truly harness the infinite power of these “artificial suns”. To achieve the moonshot goal of delivering practicable “net energy gain” from fusion power, this study advocates shedding hubristic political “one-upmanship” amongst rival governments. Further, it urges focussing the ingenuity, along with the financial and scientific resources of all stakeholders (both public and private) across the globe to bring about this “fusion dawn”. Moreover, efforts to deliver fusion power face significant competition from other clean energy sources (wind, solar power and nuclear fission reactors) that are not only technically far less challenging but also economically more viable with their declining cost structures.Originality/valueThis study is possibly one of the few social science papers that examines the prospect of clean, limitless fusion power along with the challenges it faces and its societal implications.
期刊介绍:
Asian Education and Development Studies (AEDS) is a new journal showcasing the latest research on education, development and governance issues in Asian contexts. AEDS fosters cross-boundary research with the aim of enhancing our socio-scientific understanding of Asia. AEDS invites original empirical research, review papers and comparative analyses as well as reports and research notes around education, political science, sociology and development studies. Articles with strong comparative perspectives and regional insights will be especially welcome. In-depth examinations of the role of education in the promotion of social, economic, cultural and political development in Asia are also encouraged. AEDS is the official journal of the Hong Kong Educational Research Association. Key topics for submissions: Educational development in Asia, Globalization and regional responses from Asia, Social development and social policy in Asia, Urbanization and social change in Asia, Politics and changing governance in Asia, Critical development issues and policy implications in Asia, Demographic change and changing social structure in Asia. Key subject areas for research submissions: Education, Political Science, Sociology , Development Studies .