10.3 Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Fusion energy promises clean, abundant power with minimal environmental impact. Unlike fossil fuels, it produces no greenhouse gases during operation. However, challenges like tritium management and radioactive waste handling must be addressed for safe implementation.

Compared to other energy sources, fusion offers advantages in emissions, land use, and waste generation. Its potential to provide reliable, sustainable energy aligns with global development goals, supporting clean energy access, climate action, and economic growth.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Fusion Energy

Environmental impacts of fusion reactors

Top images from around the web for Environmental impacts of fusion reactors

• 

  The Promise of Nuclear Fusion | PAM Review: Energy Science & Technology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Infographics of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle … | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Radioactive Substances View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Promise of Nuclear Fusion | PAM Review: Energy Science & Technology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Infographics of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle … | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Environmental impacts of fusion reactors

• 

  The Promise of Nuclear Fusion | PAM Review: Energy Science & Technology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Infographics of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle … | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Radioactive Substances View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Promise of Nuclear Fusion | PAM Review: Energy Science & Technology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Infographics of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle … | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Tritium management involves the containment, recovery, and safe disposal of this radioactive hydrogen isotope used as fuel in fusion reactors to prevent its release into the environment
• Neutron bombardment from fusion reactions can activate reactor components leading to the generation of low-level radioactive waste that requires proper handling, storage, and disposal methods
• Thermal pollution from cooling water discharge is a concern for fusion reactors as it can impact aquatic ecosystems (fish populations) and requires mitigation through cooling towers or heat exchangers
• Electromagnetic fields generated by fusion reactors have the potential to affect nearby electronic devices (pacemakers) necessitating shielding, distance requirements, and monitoring to ensure compliance with safety standards

Fusion vs other energy sources

• Fusion energy has near-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions compared to the high CO2 and other emissions from fossil fuels (coal) while renewables (solar) have low to zero operational emissions
• Fusion power plants are compact and centralized unlike solar and wind which require large land areas for energy generation or hydroelectric which involves the flooding of land for reservoirs
• Fusion reactors have cooling water needs but with the potential for recycling in contrast to the high water consumption of thermal power plants (nuclear fission) while solar and wind have minimal water use during operation
• Fusion generates low-level radioactive waste with no long-lived high-level waste unlike nuclear fission which produces high-level radioactive waste requiring long-term storage and fossil fuels which emit air pollutants and solid waste (coal ash)

Fusion energy for sustainable development

• Fusion has the potential to provide abundant, reliable, and dispatchable clean energy access contributing to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• The low carbon footprint of fusion compared to fossil fuels supports climate change mitigation efforts aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action
• Fusion energy development drives economic growth and innovation through the advancement of technologies, materials, and job creation in research, construction, and operation supporting Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Decentralized fusion power generation near population centers can contribute to sustainable cities and communities by reducing air pollution and health risks in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Minimizing impact of fusion facilities

• Site selection for fusion reactors involves considering ecological sensitivity, biodiversity, avoiding protected areas and critical habitats (wetlands), and conducting environmental impact assessments and public consultations
• Sustainable construction practices for fusion facilities include the use of recycled and low-impact materials (reclaimed steel), minimizing waste and pollution during construction, and adopting green building standards and certifications (LEED)
• Decommissioning planning for fusion reactors should integrate strategies early in the design phase, utilize modular components for easier disassembly and recycling, and minimize radioactive waste generation
• Recycling and reuse of materials from decommissioned fusion reactors involve recovering valuable materials (copper), reusing non-activated components in other applications, and reducing waste sent to landfills or storage facilities