Fusion energy has the potential to provide a safe, abundant, firm, zero-carbon-emitting source of primary energy, electricity, and heat. In order to achieve its potential and meaningfully contribute to the target of global net-zero emissions, fusion must demonstrate competitive economics on a short timeline. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a technological pathway to economical fusion power plants (FPP).
This RFI seeks broad input on two overarching themes: (A) Improving fusion power plant performance and (B) Increasing fusion power plant availability. While power plant performance and availability are intertwined in determining the cost of electricity, theme (A) includes technologies targeting the efficiency of plasma heating schemes, and advanced laser driver technologies, as well as economic and high-gain targets for inertial fusion energy (IFE). Theme (B) focuses on “designer” materials for plasma-facing and structural components. Candidate materials (solid and self-healing) should include, but not be limited to, the following features: minimized half-lives of materials, reduced dust formation, minimized fuel retention (e.g., hydrogen), minimized displacement per atom due to neutron irradiations, and high heat resistance (> 600 °C). Specifically, this RFI focuses on three technology areas for developing this pathway towards economically competitive fusion energy. The areas are:
- Efficient and low-cost drivers for plasma heating and assembly
- Novel first-wall and structural materials
- Low-cost, high-performance targets for inertial fusion energy (IFE)
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the US Department of Energy seeks information that could inform ARPA-E's potential research and development (R&D) funding for these three areas.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.
Respondents shall not include any information in their response to this RFI that might be considered proprietary or confidential.
Responses to this RFI should be submitted in PDF format to the email address ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on 11/28/2022.