The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) marked the two-year anniversary of the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy with the release of the DOE Fusion Energy Strategy 2024. The event, co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, celebrated the administration’s progress and future plans for advancing commercial fusion energy.
At the inaugural event in 2022, DOE launched an initiative to accelerate commercial fusion energy viability in collaboration with the private sector. The newly released strategy focuses on three pillars: closing science and technology gaps for a commercially relevant fusion pilot plant, preparing the path for sustainable and equitable commercial fusion deployment, and building external partnerships.
Today’s White House event highlighted the administration’s tangible progress and ongoing challenges in 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. “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 the DOE’s fusion strategy, a $180 million funding opportunity for Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives was announced. These Collaboratives will bridge foundational science research with the growing fusion industry’s needs, fostering innovation and bolstering U.S.-based manufacturing and supply chains.
The FIRE Collaboratives Funding Opportunity Announcement is open to accredited U.S. colleges and universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, and private companies. A webinar on the FIRE FOA will be hosted on June 7, 2024, at 12 pm ET, with pre-applications due by July 9, 2024, at 5:00 PM ET.
DOE’s continued advancement of the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision includes several new initiatives:
- Release of DOE Fusion Energy Strategy 2024: The agency-wide strategy, along with the new FES vision titled Building Bridges, will guide future investments in fusion energy research, development, and demonstration.
- Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program: Agreements have been signed by all eight selectees to participate in this program, designed to attract private investments and address key challenges in fusion energy commercialization.
- Request for Information (RFI) on Fusion Energy Public-Private Consortium Framework (PPCF): The PPCF aims to complement existing programs by bringing together state/local government, private, and philanthropic funding to accelerate fusion commercialization. A webinar on this RFI will be held on July 11th at 3 pm ET.
These announcements underscore DOE’s commitment to realizing the goals of the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision and positioning the United States as a leader in the global race for commercial fusion energy. For more information, visit Energy.gov/fusion.
