Industry: Cthulhu

Chapter 10 Controlled Fusion and Stellar Energy

The so-called elite plan, in simple terms, is to select young people with outstanding talents on Earth and send them to various galaxies in the Milky Way to study at public expense. When these people return to Earth in the future, they can help develop and build Earth civilization.

Facing Zhou Ziyu's question, Fang Yan shook his head and said, "I didn't participate in the elite program. It's normal that you don't recognize me."

As planned, Fang Yan brought out his non-existent teacher and tried to fool Huang Zhou and the others.

Anyway, the Star Alliance network is interconnected throughout the galaxy, so no one can verify whether Fang Yan met that mysterious teacher.

"There is such a thing!"

Huang Yuan was shocked. Through Fang Yan's description, the minister suddenly thought that perhaps the young people on Earth could be organized.

Even if there's not enough money to send them abroad for further studies, you can still let them study on the Star Network. Maybe they'll even meet a mysterious teacher...

"You may not know this yet," Brown said with a hint of pride. "Fang Yan is not only highly accomplished in many cutting-edge disciplines, but the theory of spatial perturbation optimization he recently compiled also caused a huge sensation at the most prestigious academic forum in the galaxy."

"Mr. Aliat, the forum manager, has decided to nominate Fang Yan for the Star Ring Award once his theoretical article is complete!"

"Perhaps it won't be long before a super scholar who has won the galactic honor will appear on Earth!"

Huang Zhou and his companions were shocked. They didn't actually understand what the Improved Space Jump and the Star Ring Award meant, but they sounded very impressive.

"Alright, Fang Yan, you two already know each other. We can talk later if you have anything to say. The most important thing right now is to finalize the energy development plan."

Brown brought the conversation back to the point, and then Huang and Zhou became serious.

Fang Yan listened carefully to their conversation. It turned out that with the continuous development and progress of the earth, the original energy facilities were gradually unable to meet the growing demand.

So they sent someone to lobby the Union Development Agency and the Aid Agency. After a long investigation and wait, they finally secured an energy aid plan.

Simply put, the Galactic Alliance invests money to help the Earth upgrade its energy system.

In return, the Earth Federation also has to sign a series of agreements with the Galactic Alliance, including the right of the Alliance fleet to dock on Earth at will, the right to expropriate land from Earth, an agreement to assist Alliance operations, and so on.

Anyway, there is no free lunch in the Milky Way. If you want to get something, you have to pay something first.

Agreements and the like are politicians' business, and Fang Yan doesn't understand them.

But Fang Yan understands technology. Currently, the Galactic Alliance provides the Earth with two options, one is controlled nuclear fusion and the other is stellar energy.

The two energy options each have their own advantages and technical challenges, and Huang Yuan and Zhou Ziyu are hesitant between the two choices.

Seeing Huang Zhou and the others hesitate, Brown smiled and pointed at Fang Yan and said, "You two, if you're having trouble deciding, you can ask Fang Yan for his opinion. After all, he's your fellow countryman, and the development and future of the Earth is something he cares about."

After hearing what Brown said, Huang Zhou and the others looked at Fang Yan, their eyes seeming to show expectation.

Fang Yan thought about it. In his mind, neither controlled fusion nor stellar energy was the best solution. However, Earth's technological level was too backward, and these two options were indeed more suitable for the current situation.

Besides, although the knowledge base of the dream civilization is profound and vast, it is still in the process of migrating to Fang Yan's brain. Technologies such as quantum or dark matter will take some time.

After some thought, Fang Yan spoke quickly, "Controlled fusion is relatively mature, with an efficiency of over 60%. The key is only one thing, and that is the suppression of isotopes."

"There are three methods for suppression. Currently, both superconducting magnets and neutron-absorbing materials need to be imported, which costs money. Plasma confinement is the most difficult, but it's free. Once the technology is established, we can achieve independent control."

Unexpectedly, Fang Yan explained the complex and extensive controlled nuclear fusion technology in just two sentences!

Huang Zhou and the others thought that Fang Yan would give a long speech on this matter, showing off his knowledge and talent, but they didn't expect that it was over just after they heard the beginning!

Brown's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he laughed heartily. "You're truly a genius, capable of coming up with a spatial disturbance optimization plan. You explained it brilliantly! Simple, precise, and to the point!"

Then Brown looked at Huang Zhou and the others and said, "Fang Yan is right. If you choose controlled nuclear fusion, you will have the opportunity to achieve independent control and mass-produce controlled reactors."

"Of course, the technical difficulty is still very high, because plasma confinement is not a simple matter."

Huang Zhou and the other two nodded.

Fang Yan paused and continued, "Stellar energy is expensive and has an efficiency of around 30%, but the energy it provides is virtually endless, making it a permanent solution."

"As for the difficulties, there are three in total."

"The first is an energy harvester orbiting the sun, followed by a laser or microwave energy transmission link, and finally a ground-based receiving base station."

"Unfortunately, with Earth's current industrial and technological foundation, we won't be able to independently produce these three pieces of equipment in the short term. We'll need to purchase them all from the Alliance, and with the current budget, we'll definitely be overspent."

After saying that, Fang Yan calmed down and waited for Huang Zhou and the others' decision.

“Although autonomous control sounds great, it seems extremely difficult.”

"Otherwise, we should just bite the bullet and invest in stellar energy equipment. After all, this solution can solve the energy problem Earth is currently facing once and for all."

"Yes, once this project is completed, our descendants will no longer have to worry about energy."

"It's not that the controlled fusion project is bad, but with the current financial resources of the Earth authorities, it is indeed impossible to support the simultaneous implementation of two projects."

"If we have to give up one, I think we should give up controlled fusion. This is also for the long-term consideration of future generations."

Huang and Zhou discussed in a low voice. Brown, the chief engineer, did not say anything. After all, it was the Earth authorities' own business to choose which plan, and it was not in his position to interfere.

But who would have thought that Fang Yan's eyes on the side gradually became fierce.

(End of this chapter)