## The Illusion of 'Breakeven'

When a laboratory announces they "achieved fusion ignition" with a Q-Value of 1.5, the media reports that infinite clean energy is here. But physics is cruel. A Q-value of 1.5 only means the *plasma* got hotter than the *laser* that hit it.

### FAQ

**Q: Why is commercial fusion energy still 30 years away?**
A: The Engineering Deficit and the Tritium Trap. To actually put electricity into the power grid, you have to capture that plasma heat, boil water, and spin a steam turbine. Turbines are terribly inefficient, wasting 67% of the heat. Therefore, to actually generate enough surplus electricity to power the city (not just the lasers), a fusion reactor needs a Q-Value over 20. Furthermore, Fusion requires an isotope called Tritium, which decays incredibly fast and basically doesn't exist on Earth. It costs $30,000 per gram. Unless the reactor breeds its own Tritium from Lithium blankets inside the walls, buying the fuel will bankrupt the power plant in 48 hours.