The Importance of Renewable Energy for the Future

The author argues that cheap, safe, and abundant renewable energy is essential for addressing a range of global challenges. They believe that advancements in renewable energy generation have the potential to significantly improve quality of life worldwide.

• Energy costs have a direct impact on economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security.
• The author highlights the historical correlation between declining energy costs and improved living standards.
• They posit that the 22nd century will be the "century of atomic energy," with significant contributions from both terrestrial nuclear power and solar fusion.

Helion Energy: Pushing the Boundaries of Fusion Energy

Helion Energy is one of the companies the author believes is leading the charge in the field of renewable energy. Their focus is on developing fusion energy, which has the potential to provide a clean and nearly limitless source of power.

• Fusion energy is a clean, safe, and potentially inexhaustible source of renewable energy.
• Helion Energy aims to achieve a practical fusion reactor within a few years.
• The author is personally involved with Helion Energy, serving as chairman of the board and investing in their seed/A rounds.

UPower: Harnessing the Power of Fission Energy

Another company mentioned is UPower, which is developing fission technology. Fission energy is a mature and proven source of clean energy with a long history of use.

• Fission energy is currently responsible for 11% of global electricity production.
• UPower is working on advancing fission technology to make it even safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective.
• The author views UPower as one of the leading companies in the fission field and is also serving as chairman and investing in their early stages.

The Need for Increased Investment in Renewable Energy

The author expresses concern that the investment landscape for renewable energy, particularly in the areas of fusion and fission, is lagging behind the potential benefits.

• Traditional investors often hesitate to fund long-term, high-risk projects like renewable energy development.
• The author believes individual investors may be better positioned to support these projects than venture funds, given the current structure of the venture capital industry.
• The lack of investment in fission is particularly notable, with new development effectively stalled in most parts of the world.
• China stands out as an exception, actively investing in and building new fission plants.

The Future of Energy Generation: Solar, Fusion, and Fission

The author envisions a future where renewable energy sources like solar, fusion, and fission play a significant role in meeting global energy demands.

• They acknowledge that the exact split between solar and terrestrial energy sources remains uncertain.
• However, they believe that one source will likely become the dominant energy source in the future.
• The author's involvement with Helion Energy and UPower reflects their commitment to supporting these companies and advancing their technologies.

A Call to Action: Invest in the Future of Renewable Energy

The article concludes with a strong call to action for investors to support the development of renewable energy technologies. They argue that the potential rewards of investing in clean energy are significant and outweigh the risks.

• The author emphasizes that talking about the need for innovation is not enough; action is required.
• They believe that individual investors can play a critical role in funding these crucial projects.
• Supporting companies like Helion Energy and UPower, focused on advancing fusion and fission technologies, can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.