Interesting. Proton-boron (or hydrogen-boron) fusion is something of a long-term aspiration due to emitting exceptionally low neutron radiation (far lower than even D-3He), and being relatively abundant (compared to tritium or helium-3). Howver, the temperatures needed is ridiculous, on the order of >1.5 billion kelvin.
In the short-medium run, D-T fusion or at most D-D fusion would likely be the only viable reactions for generating power, but I am hopeful progress could continue beyond that.
Classic fusion company progress statements. As the other comment pointed out this technology is much more challenging (and less developed) than “conventional” fusion (ITER, D-T). So the 2035 goal is almost certainly impossible, and will proceed D-T. Although I would like to be wrong of course.
Honestly im not sure what use case there is for this method. It sounds like it is the version that is easier to sell to the public (effectively no radiation). But radiation isnt much of a concern. There are other advantages too though, fuel abundance etc.
I might have a more comprehensive answer later after talking to someone in the field about it. But to my second hand understanding of the fusion world this smells like classic over stating breakthroughs, and over promising future results.
If we figure out fusion, the amount of energy that could be produced this way is going to be incredible. I don’t see anything that fundamentally precludes fusion from working either, it really is just a matter of sustained effort that hasn’t been put into it up to now. China has a pretty good track record of making tech work once they start focusing on it. Also, using private companies is pretty common in China. The state tends to direct and fund these projects from high level, leaving private companies to do the implementation. That’s basically how EVs got to where they are.
Yes its possible, and likely in the mid-longer term future.
Companies tend to over hype early results… or at least the media does which people without technical background have little way of understanding. The script goes as such: “Our plan to achieve our final goal of C (energy production reactor) is to first meet the benchmarks A, and B (net energy out). We just achieved A (fusion but at a large net loss of energy, probably not stable enough) it won’t be long before we achieve B…”
Im unequipped to judge the technical details of their result. But until they can meet their B goal there’s really no point in having a timeline for a successful reactor.
The thing is the first benchmark is always magnitudes easier to achieve. Normally once objective B doesn’t get achieved timely funding starts drying up. Actually maybe funding doesn’t dry up but the costs to achieve B and C are far higher than A, and companies struggle to get sufficient funding. Companies are faced with the decision of moving the goal posts or pivoting to a different reactor type. I don’t think that will happen in this case because its in China and that would be fraud 😂. And the funding scheme is different. But there’s really no way they can meet their timeline IMO.
A good explanation for why lot of western fusion and advanced fission reactor startups are basically scams. Or at least, not feasibly able to fulfill their objectives. They need stable development and funding that isn’t dependent on the erratic behavior of investors merely looking to turn a profit.
I agree with all that. I’m not expecting we’ll be seeing some sudden fusion breakthrough just because China is on the case. It’s still obviously a hard problem that’s going to take a lot of effort. I just think that if China does put state level effort into it, then it might happen in our lifetimes.
Ya. I just don’t want people to expect anything anytime soon.
yeah that’s fair
I wish I could weigh in, but unfortunately my nuclear science education was entirely based on standard nuclear fission reactors. Fingers crossed I can obtain an opportunity to work in fusion research at some point (I’ve got something I’m working on currently that may yield such a result) but for now, I’m about as knowledgeable as your average enthusiast in regards to the finer details.
Its notable that the company is entirely privately funded… At least from what I found.
