ARPA-E is seeking information from diverse R&D communities, from both within and especially outside the fusion R&D community, about technological solutions and innovations that can enable commercially viable fusion power plants. While it is impossible to predict precisely what is needed for fusion to be commercially viable over the next few decades, fusion’s market entry may require that both the nameplate generation capacity and total construction cost be well below the assumed 1-GWe and >$5B (2019 dollars) scales described in prior fusion-power-plant studies.[1] As discussed further below, this RFI focuses specifically on the enabling technologies for potential fusion power plants at reduced nameplate capacity and cost. ARPA-E is particularly interested in transformational R&D opportunities that are not already being pursued by or included in the roadmaps of ongoing DOE fusion programs.
Please carefully review the REQUEST FOR INFORMATION DOCUMENT and GUIDELINES below. Please note, in particular, that the information you provide will be used by ARPA-E solely for program planning, without attribution. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.
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 June 5th, 2019.
[1] See, e.g., F. Najmabadi et al., Fus. Eng. Des. 38, 3 (1997); F. Najmabadi et al., ibid 80, 3 (2006).