Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research

Fusion offers the prospect of virtually unlimited energy. The United States and many nations around the world have made enormous progress toward achieving fusion energy. With ITER scheduled to go online within a decade and demonstrate controlled fusion ten years later, now is the right time for the United States to develop plans to benefit from its investment in burning plasma research and take steps to develop fusion electricity for the nation's future energy needs. At the request of the Department of Energy, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine organized a committee to develop a strategic plan for U.S. fusion research. The final report's two main recommendations are: (1) The United States should remain an ITER partner as the most cost-effective way to gain experience with a burning plasma at the scale of a power plant. (2) The United States should start a national program of accompanying research and technology leading to the construction of a compact pilot plant that produces electricity from fusion at the lowest possible capital cost.

Fusion offers the prospect of virtually unlimited energy. The United States and many nations around the world have made enormous progress toward achieving fusion energy. With ITER scheduled to go online within a decade and demonstrate controlled fusion ten years later, now is the right time for the United States to develop plans to benefit from its investment in burning plasma research and take steps to develop fusion electricity for the nation's future energy needs. At the request of the Department of Energy, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine organized a committee to develop a strategic plan for U.S. fusion research. The final report's two main recommendations are: (1) The United States should remain an ITER partner as the most cost-effective way to gain experience with a burning plasma at the scale of a power plant. (2) The United States should start a national program of accompanying research and technology leading to the construction of a compact pilot plant that produces electricity from fusion at the lowest possible capital cost. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction2 Progress in Burning Plasma Science and Technology3 Extending the Frontier of Burning Plasma Research4 Advancing Magnetic Fusion Toward an Economical Energy Source5 Strategic Guidance for a National Program for Burning Plasma Science and Technology6 Comments on Organizational Structure and Program BalanceAppendixesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Agendas from Committee Meetings and Site VisitsAppendix C: Strategic Planning for U.S. Burning Plasma Research from 2000 to 2018Appendix D: Bibliography of Previous Studies Consulted by the CommitteeAppendix E: Published Technical References Consulted by the CommitteeAppendix F: Summary of Input Received from the Fusion CommunityAppendix G: Major Research Facilities of the United States and Other NationsAppendix H: Schedule and Budget ImplicationsAppendix I: Interim Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma ResearchAppendix J: Biographies of Committee MembersAppendix K: Acronyms