https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542435123000752

The abstract states:

Fusion energy could provide a firm and carbon-free source of electricity in future decades.

There are many proposed concepts for fusion plants, with a range of characteristics, but the technology is generally at a low technological readiness level, so it is difficult to estimate its cost.

Even if it can be harnessed, fusion will need to compete economically with other technologies for carbon-free electricity production and storage.

This work studies the value that fusion plants with various operational capabilities and parameters would provide to a future decarbonized electricity system, in particular, the United States Eastern Interconnection. The marginal value that a plant provides implies a target cost for the technology to be deployed; as in economic equilibrium, marginal cost will equal marginal value. This work could help technology developers select between concepts or designs by weighing the value of a set of operational characteristics against the required costs.