The Department of Energy last week announced a $180-million funding opportunity for nuclear fusion innovation in connection with its Fusion Energy Strategy 2024.
In a White House ceremony, DOE said the solicitation is the latest step in “Decadal Vision” to hasten commercial development of nuclear fusion.
Details on the funding opportunity for the Fusion Innovation Research Engine program are available online. A pre-application should be filed by 5 p.m. eastern time on July 5 and actual applications are due before noon eastern time on Aug. 27.
DOE envisions the maximum awards lasting up to four years and being worth no more than $5 million, according to an online slide presentation.
Also, a request for information on a proposed fusion energy public-private consortium framework was published in the June 7 Federal Register. DOE said in the notice it wants to overcome science and technology gaps to develop a commercial fusion pilot plant.
Responses to the request for information are due July 22 and a public webinar is set for Thursday, July 11 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time. Connection information is included in the notice.
“We will leverage the opportunities enabled by our world-leading public and private fusion leadership, including humanity’s first-ever demonstration of fusion ignition at our National Ignition Facility as well as major new advances in technologies such as high-temperature superconductors, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence to accelerate fusion energy,” DOE deputy secretary David Turk said in a press release. “The development of fusion energy as a clean, safe, abundant energy source has become a global race, and the U.S. will stay in the lead.”
