Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research (2019) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 4-19
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research program of burning plasma science and technology directed toward realizing economical fusion energy. It builds on the committee's interim report,1 which provided assessments of the importance of burning plasma research to the development of fusion energy and of the current status of burning plasma research in the United States.
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Nevertheless, based on the advanced state of understanding the science of magnetic confinement, new developments in superconducting magnets and advanced manufacturing methods, the considerable expert input received, and the committee's expertise, the committee concludes that a research pathway that includes study of a burning plasma and leads to the construction of a compact fusion pilot plant at the lowest possible capital cost is technically sound and strategically warranted. This strategic guidance can be developed for two scenarios: if the United States continues as a partner in the ITER project, or if it does not.
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Since that report, research has further increased confidence that ITER will achieve its scientific mission and allow scientific studies of burning plasma at the power plant scale.6 When fully completed, ITER will be capable of producing energy comparable to the output of a power plant and will allow study of many of the interconnected science and technology issues needed to develop magnetic fusion energy as a prac tical source of power. Scientists will use ITER to test methods to control plasma stability, plasma interactions with first wall materials, plasma confinement, and fusion power output.
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Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) presented its current vision for fusion research to Congress in 2015.7 The overall mission is to "expand the fundamental understanding of matter at very high temperatures and densities and build the scientific foundation needed to develop a fusion energy source." U.S.
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is guided by a roadmap to supply fusion electricity to the grid by the 2050s.9 Similar national roadmaps leading to the demonstration of fusion power guide research in China10 and Japan.11 This committee's interim report also noted the importance of strategic planning to guide national research and innovation programs, engage industrial partners, and set national priorities and concluded, "if the United States seeks to continue its pursuit for abundant fusion power, the development of a national strategic plan for fusion energy that spans several decades is necessary."12 Since joining the ITER project, the U.S. fusion community and its advisory committee, DOE's Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC)
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After adopting a nationally endorsed strategic plan for delivery of fusion energy, the United States can better set research priorities, promote innovation in fusion science and technology targeted to improve the fusion power system as a commercial energy source, and attract the talented scientists and engineers who will drive research toward commercially viable fusion reactor designs. Describing the elements of this compelling plan is the purpose of this final report.
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strategic interest in realizing economical fusion energy in the long term. As a consequence, the committee did not comment on questions of program balance within the DOE Office of Science between non-fusion plasma science and research in support of magnetic fusion energy.
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device. are fusion nuclear facilities, they operate with nuclear operating licenses, like the first-of-a-kind basic nuclear fusion license given to ITER by French Order of February 7, 2012.19 All strategic plans for fusion energy contain the elements depicted in Figure 1.1.
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Instead, science and technology innova tions and the growing interest and potential for private-sector ventures to advance fusion energy concepts and technologies suggest that smaller, more compact facili ties would better attract industrial participation and shorten the time and lower the cost of the development path to commercial fusion energy. The committee reviewed past strategic plans, the advancement in magnetic fusion confinement science, and the recent breakthroughs in fusion-relevant tech nologies with the goal to develop a new lower-cost roadmap for the United States.
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for the U.S. to pursue that could promote efficient advance toward fusion energy, building on burning plasma science and technology." The report identified several technologies (advanced computer algorithms, high magnetic field and high critical temperature superconductors, advanced materials and manufacturing, novel technologies for tritium fuel cycle control, and fast flowing liquid metals)
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In addition to a burning plasma experiment, further research is needed to improve and fully enable the fusion power system. Assessment 4: Although our international partners have national strategic plans leading to a fusion energy demonstration device, the United States does not.
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A decision by the United States to withdraw from the ITER project as the primary experimental burning plasma component within a balanced long-term strategic plan for fusion energy could isolate U.S. fusion scientists from the international effort and would require the United States to develop a new approach to study a burning plasma.
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Four ele ments important to the committee's guidance are as follows: • Continued progress toward the construction and operation of a burning plasma experiment leading to the study of burning plasma, • Research beyond what is done in a burning plasma experiment to improve and fully enable commercial fusion power, • Innovation in fusion science and technology targeted to improve the fusion power system as a commercial energy source, and • A mission for fusion energy research that engages the participation of universities, national laboratories, and industry in the realization of com mercial fusion power for the nation. Today, there is little doubt that fusion energy can be produced in the laboratory.
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withdraws from the ITER project and states the committee's rec ommendation that the United States should not withdraw. However, even in the scenario without ITER participation, DOE/FES should still initiate a plan leading toward the construction of a compact fusion pilot plant.
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fusion energy science community. Nevertheless, based on the advanced state of understanding the science of magnetic confinement, new developments in superconducting magnets and advanced manufacturing methods, the considerable expert input received by the committee, and the committee's expertise, this report provides a technically sound pathway that gains experience with a burning plasma at the scale of a power plant and that also starts a national plan for the accompanying research and tech nology leading to the construction of a compact pilot plant at the lowest possible capital cost and the production of electricity from fusion.
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13 . The Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC)
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