FPN07-08

Inertial Fusion FY 2008 Budget Request

February 6, 2007

In addition to funding fusion within the Office of Science (see FPN07-07), the U. S. Department of Energy also funds inertial confinement fusion within its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Most of this funding is budgeted under the heading "Inertial Confinement Fusion Ignition and High Yield Campaign" but some is also budgeted under the heading "Science Campaign," which is budgeted for a total of $273 million. Fusion-related research within the latter amount is impossible to determine from the budget document.

The total requested by the President for FY 2008 for the first category is $412.259 million, compared to $543.582 actual in FY 2006 and $451.191 requested by the President for FY 2007. The 2007 numbers are uncertain since the Congress has not yet passed an appropriation for FY 2007. The primary reason for the reduction is the winding down of NIF construction funding (from $140M in 2006 to $10M in 2008). Increases are proposed for preparations for NIF operations. A new Joint (with the DOE Office of Science) Program in High Energy Density Laboratory Programs is budgeted at $3.2 million.

As in the past, the DOE NNSA does not ask for continued funding for congressionally mandated programs in repetitively pulsed lasers and z-pinches, which are of great interest for potential civilian application for fusion power plants. These programs were funded at a level of $47.52M in FY 2006 and have been funded at a reduced level so far in FY 2007, pending final congressional action.

The NNSA budget can be accessed at http://www.cfo.doe.gov/budget/08budget/Start.htm and look at Volume 1 NNSA.