What fusion energy breakthrough means for Alberta's oil and gas sector

It's being called a major scientific breakthrough.

Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it, something called net energy gain, the Energy Department said.

It's a cheap and green source of energy and creates the possibility for a country to become entirely independent for fuel needs.

But what does that mean for Alberta's oil and gas sector?

Global's Morgan Black reports.

#GlobalNews #fusion #oilandgas

[mongoblazingsaddles]

I can't stop laughing at how stupid the MSM are!

[-WhizzBang-]

People don't realize how huge this is. Fusion energy will change our world as we know it. It will push humanity into the next era of technological advancement, including space travel!

[foghornleghorn]

It will be decades before this is mainstream. Don't get too excited.

[martylost]

It's like saying, "My child walked yesterday and in a decade they will be a brain surgeon!".
Did you hear the actual results?
This isn't as simple and productive as the pile in Chicago.

[primmakinsofis]

Fusion: the energy source of the future that's been fifty years away for fifty years (and counting).

[arkcon]

It means nothing, oil and gas is here to stay

[natet]

How long can it be sustained before the containment housing brakes down?

[theslimeylimey]

We are still a long long way from a fusion powered power plant. We basically just achieved step one in a long and difficult process.

[HikeRx]

It means nothing until practical applications are developed, which could take decades.

[Yotaciv]

Not much if any, probably.
Net energy gain of what? 20-30% or 0.002-0.003%?
More natural gas is the key to reducing global carbon emissions for the next 50 years.

[Themiddleman]

Absolutely nothing yet.... The grid isn't built to handle a full switch to electic everything yet and knowing Canada it will take forever to get it there. To top it off we'll still need oil for rubbers, plastics, chemicals etc. Oil and gas will be around for another few decades like it or not. Not to mention electric vehicles still haven't been perfected enough to get a decent range that meets most Canadians needs especially in the north where there's frigid temperatures. You can't even get 100 miles while towing with the new electric pickups in -20. Useless

[bsboggyboy]

Everything comes at a price impossible to get more out than put in. The extra energy comes from some where.

[HamidA-tovy]

Still too early to worry about Alberta's oil, I have been hearing for 25 years that France building fusion reactor

[StormcastMarine]

Hopefully it will kill it off completely. But unfortunately it's still years away.

[winstonsmith]

When does fusion come to market, Where are the Plants and where will they be built? Best to stay within the bounds of existing grid network power lines. Next 5, 10, or 20 years, when? What metallurgy problems to overcome?

[kneebomb]

And they’ll still charge us a fortune for unlimited electricity 😂

[MidwestWind]

None of these people killed themselves. Just saying it now

[lastChang]

This scientific breakthrough in nuclear fusion may *save the planet.*
- Thanks China 🇨🇳!

[derks]

hydrogen is still needed, unless you plan on putting tokomaks on every cargo ship?

[jaydeshaw]

What does it mean? Indeed when everything is made of plastic and you need the petrochemical industry for that what does it mean ?