Nuclear fusion: the energy of the future

Because of the nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, countries and individuals are questioning if the world should continue to invest in nuclear energy.  

I decided to investigate a little into nuclear energy. I learned that all of the world's nuclear plants are run off of nuclear fission but that there is another kind we are learning how to use: nuclear fusion.

I am now convinced that we must stop heavily investing in nuclear fission and invest more in nuclear fusion for several reasons, one being the amount of energy it can provide.

Robert Kovacich, a chemistry instructor at Columbia Gorge Community College who earned his Master of Science in nuclear energy and ran a nuclear power plant on an aircraft carrier while in the Navy said, "A fusion plant of equal physical size to a fission plant would generate a thousand times more energy."

That is crazy!

    The significance between fusion and fission is that they are literally polar opposites of each other. Fission is splitting heavier elements into lighter elements. Fusion is when two or more elements join together into a heaver elements. Fusion is more safe, because we do not need to use heavy elements that are radioactive and unstable.

    Fusion is so powerful, we are unable to contain it yet without it melting the vessel. However, according to a BBC news article, the European Union, United States, China, Germany and Russia are supporting the building of a nuclear fusion plant in France to further research this field of energy through a project called the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

    I am excited to see the United States investing in the ITER program.

The energy source we invest in for the future must be environmentally safe and be able to meet the world's high energy demand that will continue to increase with a growing population.

I think out of all the current and possible sources of energy to invest in, fusion matches these requirements the best.

First, the power produced from 10,000,000 kilograms of fossil fuel can be mirrored by 1 kg of fusion.

Second, it is environmentally friendly. Fusion will be safe for our environment, and its waste is not as dangerous as fission waste and is easier to dispose.

Professor Chris Smith, director of UK Atomic Energy Authority's Culham division, said to BBC, "Rapid construction of ITER will be a major step in the development of fusion as a potential large-scale source of electricity that will not contribute to climate change," according to a British Broadcasting Corporation article.

Third, nuclear fusion is pretty much an unlimited resource of energy, where as coal, gas and nuclear fission will eventually run out. Also by using nuclear fusion, we will not have to rely upon other countries to receive our energy, such as we do now in buying oil from the Middle East.

Fourth, a fusion plant is not reliant upon its location, such as wind, solar and dams are. A fusion plant can be put anywhere in the world.

In order for our country to increase its investment with other countries in learning how to use making nuclear fusion as a manageable energy source, we need to tell our government that we support funding nuclear fusion through projects like the ITER.

So now it is time to make up your mind about nuclear fission verses fusion. Will you join me in reaching what I believe is the most efficient energy source of the future?