Very Exciting

Originally Posted by EssexDave

The idea of nuclear fusion is pretty good but gets a negative press because of the association of nuclear with waste.

Nuclear fusion does not produce any toxic waste - it produces helium.
It also uses heavy water as fuel, and 1kg of heavy water could theoretically contain enough energy to power America for a year.

Compared to wind/sun powered schemes, it's not actually bad at all, especially considering the amount of the Earth you'd have to cover to get enough electric to power the demands at current - it's just not worth it.

Cover africa in solar panels for a day and it would power the world for a year apparently.

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by thefallenangel

Cover africa in solar panels for a day and it would power the world for a year apparently.

Not all that practical though is it lol, now if we could have the tecnologies to transfer power wirelessly we could use solar cells on satellites maybe....

I still think we're not harnessing wave energy enough though...

Solar panels outside the atmosphere connected to the earth by a cable with a counterweight to keep the satellite in place. - Lots of power, just I believe we cannot build a cable capable of going to space!

Carbon nano tube? still a little way off making one that big, but its a thought.

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

A Fission nuclear power station produces about 6MW.

I think you need to think again. Ling Ao units 1&2 turbines back in about 2002 when I was last working on a nuclear project was producing near 1000 MW. I understand 3&4 are producing about 1500MW. And Hinkley Point C is designed to have a 1750MW conventional island

D'oh, yeah, got the wrong order of magnitude. about 6GW for the plant.