ABCtech #37 08MAR15 Securing Alberta’s energy future through fusion and Transportation Just Got Sexy – and Is Just Around the Corner

ABCtech #37 08MAR15 Securing Alberta’s energy future through fusion and Transportation Just Got Sexy – and Is Just Around the Corner

We have a spectacular Conference on March 24 discussing the status of the ecosystem for expediting the commercialization of emerging technologies contributing to economic diversification. Two such technologies among others to be discussed include fusion among alternative energies with the promise of resolving climate change and the second automation and electrification of transportation.  We have solicited the following two editorials in advance of the Conference.  Both are timely with Edmonton’s recent releasing its Report on Energy Transitions.  – Editor

Securing Alberta’s energy future through fusion – by Dr.Allan Offenberger, Professor Emeritus University of Alberta

A significant international effort to harness fusion energy is underway. $Billions are being invested by governments worldwide – with the exception of Canada. This is the 21st century equivalent to getting to the moon, but worth much more as the industry will be worth $Trillions. Preparing for fusion is a bigger issue for Alberta than many people seem to realize. Consider the following points to understand its impact:

1.  Climate change and environment issues are real. The world needs sustainable, clean energy sources to replace carbon fuels ASAP. Coal-fired power plants are being replaced. The world is on a path to develop alternative (non-carbon) energy sources by mid-century or sooner.

2.  Fusion, fission and renewables are the alternatives; fusion is the highest energy density fuel. Comparing fuel supply for a 1,000 MWe power plant, coal needs 10,000 tons per day vs fusion needing 1kg per day; the annual fuel supply for a fusion plant can be delivered in the back of a pickup truck with both a significant derisking of transportation and a significant cost savings.

3) Fusion need not take 4 decades to develop, contrary to arguments by some quarters; it requires sufficient investment to realize it in two decades.

4.   Europe and Asia are investing $Billions to realize fusion ASAP (potentially by the 2030’s). They are pursuing fusion as a priority energy program. In contrast, the USA is pursuing fusion as a scientific project, Canada not at all – the only developed country not engaged in fusion energy development.

5.  Fusion can provide a base for heat, electrical power and the hydrogen economy (providing power for stationary and mobile applications). .  The fuel’s source (land and water) is universal and so avoids the geopolitics associated with carbon fuels such as coal and oil.

6.  Fusion for heat and electricity will be big business and the generator of a large number of jobs. Indeed, more than $100 trillion will be spent in building electrical power plants in this century to meet additional world demand for base load electricity.

7.  Fusion systems based on lasers is high technology – lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, instrumentation, robotics, materials, computer modeling, additive manufacturing. Fusion will be the economic foundation for energy, generating significant industry growth (comparable to aerospace manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing), displacing fossil fuels but opening new value-added industry based on carbon.

Alberta needs to address climate change and a non-carbon energy future. Fusion is one of the very few emerging industries for achieving a significant revenue stream, enabling a smooth transition from carbon for energy and economic diversification. Fusion is an option that can generate large economic opportunity as a legacy for our grandchildren.

We can’t do it alone but it need not cost $Billions if we join the international community now. Fortunately, we have the connections to engage with them in a collaborative, mutually beneficial way plus leverage the large cumulative investment in fusion development. We just need leadership with foresight in Alberta and Canada.

It is time for Alberta to begin the journey.

Monitoring Emerging Technologies
Those who prepare for disruptive technologies not only avoid the downsides, but are prepared to capitalize on the opportunities.  Private sector leaders monitor emerging technologies for sustaining their viability – and time their market entres. Public sector leaders with foresight are already securing their future by investing in sources of future revenue streams – VISIT

The Conference Board of Canada

Business Innovation Summit 2014

April 28/29th, Toronto

FOR MORE

Special Rate for ABCtech Members $495

Edmonton’s Energy Transitions Strategy

REGISTER HERE NOW

MARCH 24th

Chateau Louis – on Kingsway Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta

CONFERENCE

Creativity & Convergence – Engineering innovation, blending arts & and technology

AM  Management Workshops 

Luncheon – Speaker & Innovation Award

PM  Industry Issues Resolution
“U-Who” Reception
All Day –  Sponsors Exhibition

Contact  info@ABCtech.ca or  
(780) 990-5874

Transportation Just Got Sexy – and Is Just Around the Corner  – by Paul Godsmark, Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE)

It may come as a surprise, but transportation has been evolving increasingly rapidly in recent years and is now looking to move from an evolution phase to a revolution phase.  In other words, transportation just got sexy.

The last true paradigm shift in surface transportation was the transition from horse power to horsepower  with the advent of the modern automobile and Henry Ford’s manufacturing breakthrough.  But in 2015 we are on the cusp of the next paradigm shift as significant for society as the world wide web. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will generate a ‘physical internet’ with extraordinary breadth and depth of the impacts.

Alberta is playing major part in the transportation industry’s revolution with key pioneers, innovators, entrepreneurs and academics:

• The University of Alberta Centre for Smart Transportation is leading the way in Canada on the Connected Vehicle front, with  a major pilot program due to commence this year on the Anthony Henday and White Mud. Once we have vehicles talking to each other, and then talking to the infrastructure, we can improve safety as well as seek to maximize the road network operational efficiency for a given level of traffic.
• Magnovate, headquartered in Edmonton, is developing world leading magnet technology with the potential to significantly transform the viability of Maglev systems and bring affordable inter-city, high speed travel within the reach of many more cities. But this is just the tip of the iceberg as to how wide the impact of their technology could be.
• The Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE) co-authored a Report with the Conference Board of Canada and the Van Horne Institute (Calgary University) identifying that Canada could save $65 billion/year  when AVs are fully deployed. This technology comprises a ‘physical internet’ with the  capacity to transform society.  Morgan Stanley estimates that AVs will save the US USD$1.3 trillion/year equating to nearly 8% of it’s GDP.

AVs would reduce crashes by more than 80% and save the average household nearly $3,000/year if they give up vehicle ownership and simply hire the type of vehicle that they need, when they need it, from the shared automated vehicle fleet. The impact on parking, urban design and operational and business models could be profound.

According to the AV model that developers like Google are aiming for, road infrastructure changes are not required – other than perhaps maintaining road signs and precise striping. With electric as the ideal propulsion system for AVs, some forethought is required for electricity generation, storage and distribution to facilitate this transfer. Charging stations are already being set-up in many jurisdictions. The uptake of electric vehicles is already on an exponential trend – when converged with AV technology this trend should accelerate. With non-fossil fuel electricity supplies then emissions will be significantly reduced and we will quickly witness health benefits in our cities.

The Mayor of Los Angeles, as well Singapore and Helsinki have each stated their interest in removing drivers from their vehicles and developing ‘driverless car neighbourhoods’.  Both Calgary and Toronto have hosted workshops to explore how AVs might impact their cities.

Transportation is on the cusp of a revolution and Alberta is already playing a significant role on the world stage by supporting and promoting its own capabilities and organizations.