That too, although solar still has relatively high costs per watt. Fusion can make energy nearly free.

The cost per watt of solar comes from the expenses associated with making solar panels, averaged over their lifetime.

The cost per watt of fusion will come from the expenses associated with making fusion plants, averaged over their lifetime; additionally you need something to fuel the fusion reaction.

I doubt that fusion is going to be cheaper than solar anytime soon, given that solar has the advantage of an established manufacturing process, while fusion is still in the research phase.

No, fusion wont make energy nearly free.

Let's pretend a fusion plant is completely free to build, maintain, operate, and decommission.

50% of the cost of electricity is from transmission and distribution. Those costs aren't going anywhere.

So at most, you'll get a 50% savings. But you're not getting that either, because that fusion plant definitely wont be free.

For the purported usage (desalination) distribution is not an issue. But obviously fusion generated electricity won't be free, though marginal cost of production may approach that (if it ever becomes a reality).

But for AC, you have both distribution and variable demand. Not sure how easy fusion plants will be able to react to demand. If they're like nuclear plants, you'll need a sizeable amount of peaker capacity as well (not that solar wouldn't need that).

Well, if transmission charges factor in losses during transmission, then the generation cost would influence some part of the transmission cost. If generation was an order of magnitude cheaper, then presumably the amount of power lost between the generator and the end user would cost a negligible amount, whereas I would assume it's currently a good chunk of your distribution costs.

ianaEE

That sounds like complete fantasy at this point given the technology isn't even working yet.

Solar actually exists, fusion doesn't in a realistic comparison

If your reactors are nearly free or last a very long time, which, given they use all kinds of super advanced stuff and have parts that are bombarded by Neutrons, I doubt.