The Fusion Commission
We are a 12-month effort eager to help align government, academia, and industry around a shared vision for the deployment of fusion energy to secure America’s position in the energy transition.
Objectives
1
Align U.S. government initiatives to maximize support for fusion technology.
2
Develop a regulatory framework to support rapid and efficient fusion energy deployment.
3
Position the U.S. and allies for the rollout of fusion energy solutions
Lines of Effort
The Fusion Commission has three different working groups, each aligned with a different component of the strategies needed to bring fusion power to the grid.
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The R&D Acceleration working group will provide options to align U.S. government initiatives to maximize support for fusion technology and to close the scientific gaps in the development of fusion power. Over the course of four meetings, the working group will study the following topics and develop recommendations for creating R&D infrastructure to support scaled fusion as technical challenges are met, as well as for leading in advancing innovative technical solutions, public–private partnerships, and organizational support for continued advancements.
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The Authorities working group will focus on establishing a robust regulatory framework to support the rapid and efficient deployment of fusion energy. Through a series of four meetings, this group will develop recommendations for creating streamlined licensing processes, defining and adjusting essential regulatory authorities, and ensuring regulatory support is well-aligned with the needs of scaled fusion power plants. The working group’s efforts aim to enable a cohesive regulatory environment that accelerates fusion energy commercialization.
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The Resources working group will focus on positioning the U.S. and its allies to effectively roll out fusion energy systems. Through a series of four meetings, the group will evaluate and recommend strategies to secure essential resources, including capital, supply chains, and workforce capabilities, that are critical for scaled fusion deployment. This working group will also develop funding mechanisms to support long-term fusion projects, ensuring sustainable financial and material support as fusion technology advances toward commercialization.
WHAT IS FUSION?
WHAT IS FUSION?
Fusion is the process that powers the sun and stars. It involves combining light atomic nuclei, such as isotopes of hydrogen, to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases over ten million times as much energy as coal per pound of fuel.
In stars, fusion is powered by intense gravity. To achieve fusion on Earth, scientists must use different approaches, listed below:
Magnetic Confinement
Magnetic Confinement uses powerful magnetic fields to contain and control a superheated gas (i.e., plasma), where fusion reactions occur. The most common type of magnetic confinement device is a donut-shaped device called a tokamak. Stellarators are another approach in which the magnetic fields take a twisted shape. Magnetic confinement fusion could operate continuously, and will rely on high-temperature superconducting magnets.
Inertial Confinement
Inertial confinement uses high-powered lasers, particle beams, or pulsed currents to compress and heat a small pellet of fuel, causing it to implode and ignite a fusion reaction.
Magneto-Inertial Fusion
Magneto-inertial fusion uses magnetic confinement to contain the fuel, and then smash plasmas together in a controlled manner.
These approaches require overcoming significant technological challenges, including:
Plasma confinement and stability: Sustaining a fusion reaction will require stabilizing plasma at extremely high temperatures and managing the instabilities that cause it to whip out at the machine’s walls and damage them.
Heat management and component resilience: Managing the heat of a fusion reaction (over a hundred million degrees) is a technical challenge in its own right. Innovative solutions are being pursued for various device configurations, including advanced cooling systems, high-performance plasma-facing materials, and robust component designs.
Materials science and durability: More testing is required to develop materials that can endure the extreme conditions of a fusion reaction and the long-term effects on those materials of heat and radiation.
Fuel cycle management: Technological advances are needed to determine the best ways to breed, recycle, and retain tritium, the fuel used for most fusion reactions. Optimizing the fuel cycle will be essential to manage the supply chain, ensure operational safety, and scale the deployment of fusion systems.