As I said earlier, Cheap affordable energy is a critical key. And that energy just has to be, cheaper than coal, thorium.

Walk away safe, shielded, molten salt thorium reactors can be container sized, mass produced $40 MW models, capable of producing enough heat (750C) to decompose water, as solid state, catalytically assisted, automatic water molecule cracking!

With copious hydrogen production then fed immediately, directly into solid state fuel cells to create, quite massive, 80% coefficient, electricity generation, minus moving parts!

Even so, the inboard water, almost completely replenished via the cell, which produces equivalent, pristine, recoverable water vapor!

From time to time the catalyst will need to be changed, with the old material recycled and reused! Water will need very occasional topping.

Which ought to allow shipping container sized, complete mass produced factory built models to power massive road trains, overhead wire free, rapid rail and very fast, four pack roll on roll off ferries, connecting our export production to our Asian customers?

One could e.g., power a decent sized complete dairy operation inclusive of a pasteurization plant, a fleet of rechargeable electric delivery vehicles and some overnight irrigation, with a single module!? And doable, given all the known costs, would be mostly up front and at today's costs!

Or modest employee owned manufacturing/canning/bottling/frozen food/recycling, co-ops! The list goes on and on!

As factory produced modules, not much dearer than similar diesels?

The only difference, still powering on, without moving parts, costly lubrication and maintenance, as the diesels wear out and grind to a halt!

Only prevented by endless political postering/prevarication and or, common sense/science free zone!?

Can't died in a cornfield over a century ago!
Alan B.

Apologies and correction, the $40 MW should just read 40 MW!
Alan B.