From Brian Pollard, North Hill, Cornwall, UK
The problem with fusion power is that both major designs now in operation – laser confinement and toroidal plasma containment – are far from ideal for a practical power plant. In order to generate fusion power continually and remove the heat generated, a third, and completely different, design, yet to be envisaged, will be required.
I would say that if this were akin to trying to build a Boeing 747, fusion power is at the stage of a hot-air balloon still tethered to the ground. Fusion power is a very long way indeed from being a useful source of power.
