Post on 30-Dec-2015
Inertial Fusion – Status of NIF/LMJ
National Ignition Facility (USA):• 192 laser beam facility operational March 2009 – Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory (cost ~$4 billion)• National Ignition Campaign (NIC) – inertial fusion “proof-of-
principle” experiments planned for ~2010-11 (“central ignition”)• international confidence level high for successful fusion ignition
(basic science is established)• invitation for Alberta program to participate in NIC (starting April
2009) – acceptance requires Alberta funding decision
Laser MegaJoule (France):• independent program & facility with the same capabilities as NIF
Issues - Challenges & Opportunities
• Energy/environment context – demand/supply/clean energy
• Fusion, an ultimate energy source – why the world wants it
• Achieving fusion – conditions, approaches, status, future
• Fusion R&D – spin-offs from a high technology driver
• Alberta opportunity – leadership & socio-economic benefits
• Implementation – strategy, funding, international protocols
Inertial Fusion R&D - Spin-offs
• High power lasers (diverse applications)• Precision optics and opto-electronics• Photonics (superseding electronics)• Sensors, instrumentation and data processing• Nanotechnology (lasers, optics, targets, chamber materials)• Supercomputer modeling (fusion scientists were pioneers)• Particle beam production & acceleration (medical applications)• High energy density physics (laboratory astrophysics)
Inertial fusion R&D is a major driver of innovation – with important linkages to current Alberta innovation strategy
Inertial Fusion - Ceramic Technology
Source: LLNL
Transparent ceramics ideal for high power laser applications
Issues - Challenges & Opportunities
• Energy/environment context – demand/supply/clean energy
• Fusion, an ultimate energy source – why the world wants it
• Achieving fusion – conditions, approaches, status, future
• Fusion R&D – spin-offs from a high technology driver
• Alberta opportunity – leadership & socio-economic benefits
• Implementation – strategy, funding, international protocols
Fusion Energy - Alberta Opportunity
• Canada is the only OECD country without a fusion energy program
– Alberta can change this
• Europe, Japan & the USA have opened their doors to us to
collaborate in developing IFE
• Alberta has an image opportunity – to position us as an energy
leader beyond 2040 (CCS bridging to fusion and renewables)
• All international fusion programs are government funded since
timeframe is >20 years
Fusion Energy - Alberta Leadership
• Opportunity: national leadership in “clean” inertial fusion energy
• Opportunity: leverage investment (international linkages)
• Opportunity: early adopters will gain technological edge
• Opportunity: economic diversification (large program will attract
high tech companies)
• Opportunity: potential host site for international test reactor
• Alberta would gain significant profile and economic benefits
from an overarching fusion energy/environment initiative
Economic Impact – Job Growth
Data from A/CFEI Economic Impact Study
Growth in Jobs
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100
Year
Jobs
Economic Impact – Value
Growth in Annual Economic Return
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100
Year
$M /
yea
rData from A/CFEI Economic Impact Study
Issues - Challenges & Opportunities
• Energy/environment context – demand/supply/clean energy
• Fusion, an ultimate energy source – why the world wants it
• Achieving fusion – conditions, approaches, status, future
• Fusion R&D – spin-offs from a high technology driver
• Alberta opportunity – leadership & socio-economic benefits
• Implementation – strategy, funding, international protocols
Implementation - The Way Forward
• Phase I (3 years, ~$21M total – Alberta funding)– initiate fusion program as provincial priority – partner with international fusion R&D community– establish base (fusion success & initial R&D team) and plan
for Phase II– negotiate federal participation in national IFE program based
in Alberta for Phase II
• Phase II (5 years, ~$40M/year – joint funding)– first 5-year plan to include: 1) establishing laboratory
facilities; 2) developing laser systems & related photonics; 3) continuing international collaboration; 4) developing reaction chamber technologies
Implementation - Phase I Results
• Critical mass of highly skilled people manpower capability
• A core facility (20TW) in Alberta technical capability
• Partner in first demonstration in high fusion gain visibility
• Participate in all major routes to fast ignition critical decision
information
• Focus on high repetition rate laser development new photonics
industrial sector in Alberta
• Build a base to establish a future fusion program become a
recognized world player
The Proposal
• Alberta to implement & fund a fusion energy program as a priority (energy/environment/economy)
• Phase I funding required ~$21M over 3 years ($4M first year) to:– build R&D team via international collaboration (arranged)– participate in “proof-of-principle” fusion demonstration (USA)– establish base (fusion success & initial R&D team) for Phase II– prepare for change (socio-economic impact & policy analysis)
• Pursue a US/Canada fusion energy/environment protocol– build on powerful alliance with LLNL (DOE National Lab)
Implementation - Phase I Expenditures
Funding Components
HiPER CollabLasers
Proton FI
Socio-Economic
Impact Study
Home FacilityLasers
Diagnostic Development
LLNL CollabIgnition
Fast IgnitionLasers
Admin Planning for
Fusion InstituteILE Collab
Fast IgnitionLasers
LLE/LULI/LMJ Collab
Hole Boring2nd Shock FI