Progress in Confinement & Heating

Increasing laser energy

n

Confinement Parameter & Temperature

National Ignition Facility - USA

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

NIF Chamber

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

Inertial Fusion - Conceptual Power Plant

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 - Diode Laser Technology

Inertial Fusion - Ceramic Technology

Source: LLNL

Transparent ceramics ideal for high power laser applications

Inertial Fusion - Target Nanotechnology

Source: LLNL

Target is built up of layers with nm precision

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

Implementation - Phase I Budget

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

$k

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Fusion Program Expenditures

Capital

Operating

Salaries

$20,820k total

over 3 Years

$8,292k

$4,017k

$8,511k

15

3729

Leveraging $4 billion USA investment