At the initial event, the DOE started a Department-wide initiative to develop a strategy to accelerate commercial fusion energy in partnership with the private sector. The newly released DOE Fusion Energy Strategy 2024 focuses on three pillars: closing science and technology gaps to a commercially relevant fusion pilot plant, preparing for sustainable and equitable commercial fusion deployment, and building external partnerships.

The White House event aimed to raise awareness and support for fusion energy development, recognizing the progress made by the Biden-Harris Administration and addressing the challenges and opportunities for fusion commercialization.

"With today's announcements, DOE has shown once again that we are ambitiously implementing our U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy, said DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk. "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. 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.

In support of DOE's fusion energy strategy, a $180 million funding opportunity for Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives was announced. These collaboratives aim to support the creation of a fusion innovation ecosystem by forming teams to bridge the DOE's Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program's foundational and enabling science research with the needs of the growing fusion industry. The FIRE Collaboratives are intended to bolster U.S.-based manufacturing and supply chains, driving advancements in fusion energy research in collaboration with public and private entities.

The FIRE Collaboratives Funding Opportunity Announcement, sponsored by the FES program within the DOE's Office of Science, is open to accredited U.S. colleges and universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, and private companies. Outyear funding is subject to congressional appropriations. FES will host a webinar on June 7, 2024, at 12pm ET. Pre-applications are due on July 9, 2024, at 5:00 PM ET.

DOE also announced other initiatives supporting the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision:

- The release of the DOE Fusion Energy Strategy 2024 and a new FES vision entitled Building Bridges, which will guide future DOE investments in fusion energy research, development, and demonstration. The Building Bridges vision includes developing a national fusion S and T roadmap to address the critical S and T gaps to commercially relevant fusion pilot plants. The Strategy and Vision documents are available at Energy.gov/fusion.

- All eight selectees signed agreements to participate in the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, which aims to catalyze further private investments into fusion commercialization and help companies resolve critical-path scientific, technological, and commercialization challenges.

- A Request for Information (RFI) on a proposed Fusion Energy Public-Private Consortium Framework (PPCF) was released. The PPCF aims to complement the Milestone Program and FIRE Collaboratives by bringing together state/local government, private, philanthropic funding, and new partnerships to accelerate fusion commercialization. A webinar on the PPCF will be held on July 11th at 3 pm ET.

Related Links
DOE Fusion Energy Strategy
Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com