December 15 news, Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the commercial logic of developing miniature fusion reactors on Earth on the social media platform X. He pointed out that the sun itself is a huge and free fusion reactor hanging in the sky, and attempting to replicate this mechanism on Earth to create a “mini version” is an extremely foolish act.
This is not the first time Musk has expressed such views. In 2023, during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Musk stated that we have a giant fusion reactor in space, and by using solar panels to generate electricity and storing it in batteries, we can achieve 24-hour power supply. Musk claimed, “In fact, just a 100-mile by 100-mile array of solar panels would be sufficient to meet the entire electricity demand of the United States.”
Musk’s views contrast sharply with current mainstream fusion research. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project is building the world’s largest tokamak device, a collaborative effort involving over 30 countries aimed at proving the feasibility of fusion energy.
However, China is also at the forefront in clean energy.
Is it free America?