FPN21-11

Fusion Pilot Plant Study Release February 17

February 4, 2021

The U.S. National Academies (NASEM) will release its Fusion Pilot Plant study in a webinar briefing on Wednesday February 17 at 1 pm US Eastern Time. Registration is required and can be made at:

Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid: Report Release Webinar

The report was requested by the U. S. Department of Energy in June 2020 (see FPN20-40). NASEM was requested to assemble a panel to "provide a concise report that addresses the following points":

In developing and carrying out a plan for building a Pilot Plant, key goals need to be established for all critical aspects of the Pilot Plant. Identify those key goals, independent of confinement concept, which a Pilot Plant must demonstrate during each of its anticipated phases of operation.
List the principal innovations needed for the private sector to address, perhaps in concert with efforts by DOE, to meet the key goals identified in the first bullet.The NASEM study is complementary to the FESAC-led long-range strategic planning for FES that is under way.