A Question A Day in May - Part 2

This month, in honour of fusion energy week (5-9th May), we have been posting A Question A Day in May for our subscribers (we're on Circle*). We asked our readers for input, and Karl Tischler is answering the fusion questions you've been wanting answered in comprehensive detail.

Check out this summary of the questions so far and read the extended versions on our Circle platform by following the links. It's free to subscribe.

*Circle is a bit like Substack but with extra community features.

Q11 : How will tariffs impact the fusion supply chain?

Yes, tariffs raise costs. But the deeper story is a global realignment — away from just-in-time globalism toward resilience, redundancy, and regional control.

That brings real challenges — but also new relationships, better risk awareness, and stronger local capabilities. The fusion sector is learning to adapt, not just to scientific uncertainty, but to economic and geopolitical volatility too.

And that mindset shift may prove essential for building a fusion future that’s not just viable, but built to last.

Q12: Should we be concerned about the carbon emissions being released on the road to fusion?

Yes, fusion’s development phase emits carbon. But so did the first wind turbines, the first solar factories, and the first EV batteries. The real test is whether the long-term gains outweigh the short-term costs — and for fusion, that potential is massive.

We must use today’s energy to build tomorrow’s — and if we do it smartly, fusion could be one of the most powerful tools we have for climate mitigation. Investing a few million tons of CO₂ now to avoid billions later? That’s a trade we should make.
But we shouldn’t let that logic become an excuse for inaction. Public fusion programs should measure and report their carbon footprint — and integrate sustainability into day-to-day operations. 'Fusion will fix carbon later' can’t justify ignoring emissions today.

In my experience working in European fusion programs, I was surprised to see how little attention sustainability received — even at the level of public funding or project design. That needs to change. Sustainability shouldn't just be a fusion outcome; it should be part of the process. And doing so would only strengthen fusion’s case — proving that it’s not only about clean energy someday, but about responsible innovation right now.

Q13: Are ELMs unavoidable in fusion?

We used to fear ELMs. Now we’re building the tools to outsmart them.

Between smarter plasma regimes, real-time AI control, quantum simulation, and entirely new reactor concepts, the idea that fusion must include damaging edge bursts is fast becoming outdated.

This isn’t just about mitigating risk. It’s about raising ambition.

If fusion succeeds, it could power civilization for millennia. But to get there, we’ll need more than magnets and neutrons—we’ll need intelligence, agility, and imagination.

And the next generation of fusion machines? They might just run without ELMs at all.

Day 14 Introduction: Fusion by Imagination — 6 Ideas, 1 Big Question

Day 14 is different.

Instead of one question, we’re tackling six— all from one curious reader, Andrew Lee.

From cryogenic D-T baths to Cf-252 ignition, plasma coating, SMRs, and bomb-stage tweaks, Andrew asks what many are thinking:

Can we reimagine fusion using simpler, cheaper, or more familiar technologies?

His questions are creative, speculative, and sometimes mix concepts from fusion, fission, and weapons physics. But that’s exactly why they’re worth answering — because the path to fusion isn’t just technical; it’s public. And it starts with people asking bold, outside-the-box questions.

Each answer today helps clarify what fusion is — and what it isn’t.

Because understanding the boundaries is how we move past them.

Q15: Who’s Best Positioned to Scale Fusion Energy — and What Will It Take?

In summary, China's comprehensive approach—combining substantial investment, technological innovation, international collaboration, and strategic deployment—positions it as a formidable leader in the global pursuit of fusion energy.

Q16. How can a fusion startup pitch itself to Bitcoin miners or data center operators?

This is not just a pitch for funding. It is a pitch for energy independence, lower operating costs, leadership in clean energy, and a major strategic advantage.
You are offering them the chance to secure their future, not just participate in yours. With credible fusion milestones, a clear roadmap, and a strategic partnership structure, this is not speculative charity — it is a serious, forward-looking investment opportunity grounded in growing scientific and commercial momentum.

Q17. Is repowering coal plants with fusion realistic, or should we build entirely new fusion facilities?

You will not repower a coal plant by simply inserting a fusion core into the old boiler. Instead, you will build a new fusion facility at the old site, reusing critical infrastructure to accelerate deployment and reduce costs.

This approach is considered so realistic and attractive that multiple projects are actively pursuing it today. Repurposing coal plant sites for fusion is one of the most pragmatic, cost-effective strategies for scaling fusion energy into the power grid.

Q18. How can smaller countries take part in the fusion energy revolution?

Fusion isn’t just for scientific superpowers. Smaller nations can contribute meaningfully through smart partnerships, strategic investments, and niche innovation. With fusion moving from theory to prototype, there’s a real opportunity to get involved—and stay involved—as the industry grows. In fusion, size matters less than strategy.

Q19. How does fusion compare to solar plus battery storage, especially in terms of cost, reliability, and scalability?

Solar plus storage is today’s champion: cheap, proven, and rapidly scaling. Fusion is the contender: powerful, reliable, but still proving itself. Over the next two decades, solar+batteries will continue to lead clean energy deployment.

But as grids become more dependent on weather-driven power, we’ll need firm, dispatchable sources to fill the gaps. If fusion can become cost-effective, it could play that role—providing reliable power when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.

This isn’t a zero-sum game. The clean grid of the future will likely be a mix: wind, solar, batteries—and something firm. That something could be fusion.

Q20. How significant is the April 2025 breakthrough by TAE Technologies involving their NORM device?

TAE’s April 2025 breakthrough with Norm didn’t produce net energy—but it solved a long-standing problem in FRC-based fusion. It removes major design complexity, clears a path to cheaper reactors, and validates the physics for their next machine. In the fusion race, moments like this matter—because they bring ambitious ideas one step closer to real-world impact.

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