modular reactors focussed on safety , flexibility and reduced waste .
What other ‘ next generation ’ technologies can we look forward to ? Nuclear fusion and space-based solar are also worth mentioning . Previously the stuff of science fiction , these solutions might not be ready for 2050 , but do now represent a viable reality for subsequent decades . While even the most challenging scenarios struggle to envisage a successful phasing out of fossil fuels by 2050 , this itself has led to innovation in carbon capture and storage – which offsets emissions in hardto-abate sectors , buying time to put in place truly zero-carbon solutions .