Work

On the impact of nuclear fusion power plants deployment on selected critical materials consumption

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: As a risk minimization strategy against anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the related impact on global warming several countries are committing themselves to reach within few years a “climate-neutral” economy. This will possibly drive the development and market penetration of any energy generation technology proving to be sustainable in terms of both resource exploitation and impact on environment (carbon-free, burden for future generations). Nuclear fusion is among the possible energy supply technologies fulfilling this future low-carbon energy demand. In fact, as an energy technology, it has the potential to supply significant amounts of energy from small fuel quantities while the energy releasing reactions do not produce greenhouse gas emissions. Fusion technology development efforts are currently ongoing in Europe in the frame of a roadmap expecting the commercial exploitability of fusion power from mid of the century on.An analysis of the possible impact of nuclear fusion power plants penetration as a player in the energy market in terms of material resources consumption is proposed in the present paper. With this perspective goal, an estimation of Fusion Power Plant (FPP) materials needs is first provided, with reference to recent baseline fusion reactor concept designs. A shortlist of critical materials is then derived, and a projection of long term non-fusion consumption for such materials is performed. Finally, the impact of material demand from a reference FPP penetration pathway is investigated in terms of material production needs and depletion.

Source: Energy Strategy Reviews

Authors: D.N. Dongiovanni, Y. Melese, F. Gracceva, C. Bustreo, A. von Müller

Institutions: National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, University of Padua

Language: English

Topic: Fusion materials and technologies

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,180

Funders: EUROfusion, European Commission, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile