US energy chief tells BBC that nuclear fusion will soon power the world
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke to BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt in an interview in Brussels.
The US Energy Secretary told the BBC not to worry too much about planet-warming emissions, claiming that in five years, AI will harness nuclear fusion, the energy source of the Sun and stars.
In an interview, Chris Wright stated that he expects the technology to power global power grids within eight to 15 years and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His claim will likely surprise even those interested in the technology.
While fusion can produce large amounts of low-carbon energy, most scientists believe commercial fusion power plants are still far from being realized.
“With artificial intelligence and what’s going on in US national labs and private companies, we could have that approach to how to use fusion energy in a multi-faceted way within the next five years,” Mr Wright said.
“The technology will be on the electrical grid in, you know, eight to 15 years.” Scientists believe that nuclear fusion, which Mr Wright studied at the university, could one day produce vast amounts of energy without heating up our atmosphere.
Donald Trump’s energy chief has urged the UK government to lift its unofficial ban on fracking and to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.
The US energy secretary has warned that the Trump administration has “serious concerns” about Europe’s reliance on Chinese renewable technology.
“It looks like the Chinese can control what’s going on in your energy system,” he said.
He echoed Donald Trump’s claim that the UK and Europe’s efforts to transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy are accelerating deindustrialization and impoverishing their citizens poor.
Mr Wright is in Brussels ahead of Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK next week. The US president will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer and King Charles will attend a banquet at Windsor Castle.
China is a leader in solar technology and exports, while the Trump administration is worried about Europe’s dependency on renewable energy.
Mr. Wright, founder of a US fracking company, claimed that oil and gas from fracking could revive manufacturing jobs and lower costs for electricity, home heating, and industrial fuels.
Reform UK aims to support fracking in the UK if they win the next election. The British Geological Survey has cautioned that significant oil and gas production from fracking may be restricted.
Mr Wright has argued for the Trump administration’s multi-billion dollar cuts to renewable energy subsidies. He said that wind power has been subsidized for 33 years and solar power for 25 years.
The energy secretary questioned, “Isn’t that enough? After 25 to 30 years of subsidies, you should be self-sufficient.”
The US Energy Secretary supported a July report from the Department of Energy stating that the threat of climate change has been exaggerated.
The report controversially claimed that sea level rise is not accelerating, that climate models overestimate future temperature increases, and that scientists overlook the benefits of climate change, like increased carbon dioxide promoting plant growth.
Earlier this month, over 85 international scientists stated that it contained errors and misrepresentations and that the data was “cherry-picked.” The scientists also questioned the academic standards of the paper’s five authors.
Mr Wright told the BBC he believed climate scientists were using data selectively. “Cherry-picking is the norm in climate science, in the media, by activists, and by politicians,” he said.
He stated that climate change is a “very real, physical phenomenon” and believes the world will be carbon-free within a generation, not two or three.
He expressed happiness that his report had prompted a strong debate, stating, “We’re having a public forum on climate change repeatedly.” I’ve been asking for this for 20 years.”
He argued that the Trump administration’s funding cuts to climate science, including a proposal to reduce funding for NOAA, would not negatively impact US weather and climate research.
The cuts may hinder the development of new weather satellites and could lead to the closure of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory, which has the longest record of direct CO2 measurements.
Mr Wright claimed the US government was trying to restore “real science.” He added that, “There are so many rumors that all sorts of terrible things are happening.”
He claimed: “One of the problems with science is that it has become so politicised in the climate world that if you deviate from the church, your funding will be cut off.”
Original author: Justin Rowlatt, BBC Climate Editor
Edited in easy form: Rahman Mahfuz
Courtesy: The BBC.
