Francesco Volpe (Renaissance Fusion) on the challenges of building a nuclear fusion reactor
With nuclear fusion gaining global momentum and investor interest soaring, companies are edging ever closer to building what has long been seen as the holy grail of energy: machines capable of generating unlimited, clean, and sustainable power.
One of the most promising fusion start-ups is Renaissance Fusion in Grenoble, France. To discuss their progress so far – and the major challenges that lie ahead – I’m joined by Francesco Volpe, its CEO and co-founder.
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47:00
Van den Beukel en de Boer #64
In deze aflevering hebben we het onder meer over kernenergie en de renaissance die steeds serieuzere vormen lijkt aan te nemen. Zo trok Groot-Britannië vorige week de portemonnee, heeft een Duitse kernfusie-startup een recordbedrag opgehaald en heft de World Bank z’n ban op het financieren van kernenergie – uit 1959 – op. En dan was er óók nog bijzonder kernenergie-nieuws uit Delft.
Ook hebben we het over de macht van China over voor ons, en voor de transitie, essentiële grondstoffen. Macht die het land inmiddels steeds harder en openlijker uitoefent. Zo moesten enkele bedrijven de afgelopen weken hun productie terugschroeven bij gebrek aan critical raw materials.
Heel ander nieuws is er van de Mijnraad, die afgelopen week met een advies over de leveringszekerheid van aardgas in Nederland kwam. Conclusie: Nederland heeft z’n zaakjes niet op orde. En natuurlijk hebben we het over de oorlog in het Midden-Oosten en het effect op de olieprijs.
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47:02
Bart Groothuis (Renew) and Christoph Podewils (ESMC) on solar PV, cyber-attacks and energy security
According to new research, the remote-control capabilities of PV inverters from high-risk manufacturers — such as those based in China — pose a serious threat to Europe. Gigawatts of solar power could be switched off at the push of a button.
To discuss the threat and how it might be addressed, I’m joined by Christoph Podewils, Secretary General of the European Solar Manufacturing Council, and Bart Groothuis, Member of the European Parliament representing the Renew Europe group.
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49:02
Louwrens Op de Beek (Nobian) on the Necessity of Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns
In an energy system where wind and solar play a dominant role – the kind of system currently being developed across Europe – storage will be of critical importance. This includes, for instance, storing green hydrogen in...salt caverns. But why store hydrogen in salt caverns? And how does it actually work? To discuss this, I’m joined by Louwrens Op de Beek, Director of Energy Storage at the chemical company Nobian.
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48:46
Kimmo Tiilikainen (Geological Survey of Finland) on the new National Mineral Strategy
Last December, Finland launched its new National Mineral Strategy. This master plan outlines the future of sustainable and responsible mineral production, and comes at a crucial time for both the Nordic country and the EU as a whole.
To discuss the strategy—and mining in general—I’m joined by Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finland’s former Minister for the Environment and Energy, who is now Director General of the Geological Survey of Finland.
Studio Energie
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Netherlands