Scientists have achieved a milestone in the effort to build the future ITER fusion reactor.
Nuclear fusion should be the future of any sane government energy policy. It is the most energy dense method of power generation that we are aware of. It's clean, and it doesn't emit any of those harmful, poisonous, carbon dioxide fumes we hear about from time to time.
Whereas nuclear fission - the type of nuclear power generation in use today - occurs when energy is released as the result of splitting an atom apart, fusion occurs when atomic nucleii fuse together to form a heavier nucleus. This is the process going on inside the Sun.
"Giant wind turbines with blade spans that dwarf the London Eye could be the shape of future green power, it has been disclosed."
So declared several of our so-called newspapers, when they each printed the same press release recently.
These giant technological marvels, based upon 9th century technology, more than 500 feet tall and with a diameter of 475 feet, will be making an appearance to a shoreline near you within the next two years.
A question which immediately springs to mind is, how much electricity will be generated by these monsters?
Last night's Channel 4 Dispatches "documentary" was a classic example of a multi-purpose psychological operation, designed to minimise any urges we may have towards activism, while at the same time softening us up to yet more social profiling and the idea of energy austerity.
The programme began by dropping in everyone's new favourite euphemism, "fuel poverty." Now, according to my next door neighbour (no, really!), "fuel poverty" can be defined as either:
The state of having to spend more than 10% of disposable income to keep your fleet of private jets running. Cost-cutting measures on imported Cuban cigars and vintage Cognac may be necessary.
