Ukraine, physicist Rossi Albertini: “It’s an energy pandemic, let’s join efforts as if for a vaccine”

With Russia’s war in Ukraine “we are now in full ‘energy pandemic’ and as well as to address and resolve the global pandemic of the Sars-Cov2 virus we have joined forces and produced effective vaccines in just 10 months, we must now aim for everyone our money, all our efforts and all our scientists in the sector to face and resolve in a decisive way the problem of energy supply “by focusing on” nuclear fusion “. To mark it, interviewed by Adnkronos, is the nuclear physicist of the CNR Valerio Rossi Albertini, who pushes to use “a part of the funds of the PNRR for nuclear fusion.” And if we are in an energy pandemic, if we therefore need so much energy, and clean energy, then – asks the scientist – wouldn’t it be wise to make a major international program to accelerate nuclear fusion technology? “. For nuclear fusion, he adds,” there is talk of possible results in times equal to 15 -20 years under current conditions, but if we concentrate our efforts I think the times would be halved. Science has shown what it can do when supported by a joint effort “observes Rossi Albertini.” They say that there are still many open problems about nuclear fusion but the scientists are there to solve the problems as it was done with a common effort and global – and decisive – on vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 “adds the nuclear physicist of the National Research Council.” Now that there is hunger for energy – he continues – people of good will must understand that we have a the solution of the energy problem with nuclear fusion is within reach “and” I compare the solution of the ‘energy problem’ to the value of the discovery of fire “.” More than materials – he stresses – there is a lack of global energy, just look as the underdeveloped countries are because they do not have access to energy “.” Against the energy crisis “that is looming with Russia’s war in Ukraine Rossi Albertini suggests that” we should devote a slice of the fo ndi of the PNRR to develop nuclear fusion “, a sustainable source of energy. “Talking about ‘coal’ seems anachronistic to me” just as “going back to talking about fission nuclear power could be devastating” and if “Minister Cingolani is pursuing the reasoning about fourth generation nuclear power plants, I remember that it has not yet been realized either. the third generation “. Furthermore, “the few new technologies applied to nuclear power plants are only make-up, the technology is always that of Enrico Fermi’s 1942, we do not invent instrumental justifications” he says. And above all, Rossi Albertini reflects, “nuclear power plants are sensitive targets, just as to build many small power plants scattered throughout the country, the ‘district power stations’ would increase the risks. Furthermore, very high skills are needed to manage a nuclear power plant and it is unthinkable to manage them. independently”. “the costs are very high both to build them and to dismantle them and it takes 15-20 years to build a nuclear power plant”. And then, he says, “after 2 abrogative referendums, it also means disavowing the popular pronouncement: I am absolutely against even just the discussion, Chernobyl and the Fukushima tragedy should have made us understand how devastating nuclear power is”. The nuclear physicist of the CNR then tackles the issue of coal-fired power plants which he considers “anachronistic”. “We have 4 large coal-fired power plants that should have closed but now, that we are in difficulty and suffering from energy, the closures will postpone and yet it had been agreed that coal technology is archaic, it is no longer viable despite the attempts of ‘green’ coal. Moreover, in Italy we have coal but it is of poor quality and to purify it we have to go abroad, with higher costs than purchasing – always outside our borders – of better quality coal and therefore, also in this case, we are dependent on foreign coal “. “Coal is anachronistic in 2022 with the technologies we have. In the Bronze Age coal was burned: then it was useful not in 2022” the Cnr scientist said shortly. (by Andreana d’Aquino)