This graph shows the increase of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere since 1700. As recently stated, in the 1700s, during the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels were the main source of energy (McLamb). Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a drastic increase in the release of CO2 emissions in the air, as seen in the above picture. Carbon dioxide emissions have, in the past 65 years, risen, which illustrates the need for a new and environmentally friendly energy source.
Although there are many different strategies to try and combat climate change, “nuclear fusion is one of the most promising options for generating large amounts of carbon-free energy in the future” (Introduction to Fusion). Nuclear fusion occurs when two nuclei,
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The problem with using fossil fuels as an energy source is that it is not renewable, and it is not a source that we can rely on for thousands of years. However, fusion energy is an abundant energy source, as it comes from the ocean. Deuterium can be extracted from seawater, “for about one thousandth of a cent per kilowatt-hour” (Laberge). According to Laser Inertial Fusion Energy, otherwise known as LIFE, “one out of every 6500 atoms of hydrogen in water is deuterium, giving a cup of water the energy content of close to 19 gallons of gasoline”. Though fusion energy would replace our need for fossil fuels, it has been proven to be extremely difficult. The two hydrogen atoms have the same electrical charge; therefore, they will repel each other. In order to make them fuse, they have to be thrown at each other with great speed, to overcome the electrical repulsion (Coulomb Barrier for Fusion). The particle speed is a measure of the temperature, and the temperature required for fusion to occur is 100 million degrees Celsius (Laberge). The Sun’s heat and pressure accelerates the two atoms so that the electrical repulsion is overcome (Siegel). However, on Earth, these high temperatures and pressures need to be re-created. Arguments made against nuclear fusion say that commercial power plants will be extremely expensive to build, however, generating electricity from fusion is cheaper than electricity generated from oil, gas and coal. Also, because small amounts of fuel are used, a large-scale nuclear accident is not possible. Lastly, fusion energy is very efficient, as one kilogram of fusion fuel is equal to ten million kilograms of fossil fuel (Introduction to Fusion Fuel). A one GW fusion plant requires 100kg of deuterium and 3 tons of natural lithium to operate for a year,