Gov. Schwarzenegger Highlights Clean Energy Innovation at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
11/10/2008 Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to receive a national security briefing and visit the nearly completed National Ignition Facility (NIF). Expected to be completed in March 2009, NIF will be the world's largest laser system. In addition to its critical role in our national security, one of the most significant potential applications of NIF technology is in the area of clean energy.
(Media-Newswire.com) - 11/10/2008 Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ( LLNL ) to receive a national security briefing and visit the nearly completed National Ignition Facility ( NIF ). Expected to be completed in March 2009, NIF will be the world's largest laser system. In addition to its critical role in our national security, one of the most significant potential applications of NIF technology is in the area of clean energy.
"This laser technology has the potential to revolutionize our energy future," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "If successful, this new endeavor could generate thousands of megawatts of carbon-free nuclear power but without the drawbacks of conventional nuclear plants. This type of innovation is why we are a world leader in science, technology and clean energy, and I could not be prouder that this work is happening right here in California."
This new technology, called Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy ( LIFE ), will ignite a fusion reaction when its 192 beams of light all converge in a chamber onto a tiny BB-sized target containing frozen hydrogen gas. In a pulse of energy lasting only a billionth of a second, the atoms inside the target will fuse together, creating a miniature star and igniting a fusion reaction. This could eventually result in thousands of megawatts of carbon-free electricity while utilizing nuclear waste that would otherwise sit in storage for tens of thousands of years. There are three phases to the LIFE project: research and development, a pilot plant and a demonstration plant. The goal is to have a large demonstration project for LIFE operating by 2020.
LLNL and NIF also play an important role in our state's economy. NIF supports about 1,000 high-tech science and technology jobs in California and has purchased products from more than 800 California vendors. By 2010, NIF will have spent more than $2 billion in our state. LLNL employs 6,800 individuals and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC ( LLNS ), a partnership of the University of California, Bechtel Corporation, Babcock and Wilcox, the URS Corporation and Battelle Memorial Institute.
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