The DOE charge to the NRC was to (1) assess the prospects for generating power using inertial confinement fusion; (2) identify scientific and engineering challenges, cost targets, and R&D objectives associated with developing an IFE demonstration plant; and (3) advise the U.S. Department of Energy on its development of an R&D roadmap aimed at creating a conceptual design for an inertial fusion energy demonstration plant.

In their report, the Committee states "There has been significant technical progress during the past year in the National Ignition Campaign being carried out on the NIF. Nevertheless, ignition has taken longer than scheduled. The results of the experiments performed to date have differed from model projections and are not yet fully understood. It will likely take significantly more than a year from now to gain a full understanding of the discrepancies between theory and experiment and to make needed modifications to optimize target performance." They state, "While the committee considers the achievement of ignition as an essential prerequisite for initiating a national, coordinated, broad-based inertial fusion energy program, the committee does not believe that the fact that NIF did not achieve ignition by the end of the National Ignition Campaign on September 30, 2012 lessens the long-term technical prospects for inertial fusion energy. It is important to note that none of the expert committees that reviewed NIF's target performance concluded that ignition would not be achievable at the facility. The Committee concluded, "The potential benefits of inertial confinement fusion energy (abundant fuel, minimal greenhouse gas emissions, limited high-level radioactive waste requiring long-term disposal) also provide a compelling rationale for establishing inertial fusion energy R&D as part of the long-term U.S. energy R&D portfolio. A portfolio strategy hedges against uncertainties in future availability of alternatives due, for instance, to unforeseen circumstances."

The Committee goes on to describe in detail the many technologies that must be developed for an IFE power plant. These include mass production of cost-effective targets, chambers, and blankets, and programs aimed at reducing projected capital costs and increasing projected availability (capacity factor) of IFE fusion power plants. They state, "A comprehensive, systems engineering approach should be used to assess the performance of IFE systems" and recommend, "In the event that ignition is achieved on the National Ignition Facility or another facility, and assuming that there is a federal commitment to establish a national inertial fusion energy R&D program, the Department of Energy should develop plans to administer such a national program (including both science and technology research) through a single program office."

The report also describes various aspects of inertial fusion, including drivers, chambers, etc., in considerable detail.