This Week in Startups Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ Bob Mumgaard on trying to solve climate change via nuclear fusion technology | E1171
Feb 6, 2021
Bob Mumgaard, a plasma physicist and CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, dives into the revolutionary world of nuclear fusion. He discusses how fusion technology can provide a sustainable energy source to combat climate change, comparing it to traditional nuclear power. Mumgaard highlights recent advancements in fusion reactor design, challenging temperature and pressure hurdles, and innovative magnet technology. He also addresses the global race for fusion innovation and the crucial investment needed to transform this clean energy dream into reality, possibly powering cities in the near future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Fusion Stability
- Fears of fusion instability are exaggerated; the energy in a fusion reaction is comparable to boiling water.
- The challenge lies in maintaining the reaction, as it's akin to a candle in the wind, easily extinguished.
Tokamaks and the Fusion Challenge
- Tokamaks, donut-shaped magnetic bottles, contain the superheated plasma required for fusion.
- While scientists have made significant progress, achieving net energy gain remains the critical hurdle.
ITER Project
- The ITER project, a multinational effort in France, aims to achieve net energy gain in a tokamak.
- This project, at 72% completion, represents the traditional, large-scale approach to fusion.