Programme Overview
Fusion offers potential future energy abundance yet is at the same time highly challenging. In the context of a fusion future full of opportunity but also complexity, this programme aims to map out future energy ecosystems and uses of fusion expanding beyond grid electricity. It will also explore whether fusion will replace technologies existing at the time (e.g. due to obsolescence/end of life). In addition, it will examine whether fusion will augment or compete with other technologies to address the increasing demand or aim at affordable solutions for specific supply needs and characteristics not readily met by other technologies. In parallel the programme will explore how this is affected by and affects the development of various fusion power plant concepts.
Programme deliverables
The programme will generate a series of reports and other input to bring information and expert advice to help guide future strategies, and R&D alongside programmes aimed at pilot fusion plants. Topics include:
- Future energy demands and ecosystems around the world, how renewables and storage might evolve, need and types of industrial heat as well as electricity generation.
- Deployability factors for fusion plants in various locations including cost, opportunity cost, supply chain needs, local infrastructure requirements, aspects of co-location of industrial processes using fusion heat, technical complexity factors, and the level of confidence in a given concept.
- How different characteristics of fusion plants might improve the situation.
How external parties can get involved
Two avenues are planned, but this may be adapted and we also welcome informal contact and input on the themes described above.
- Via calls for expert input through short tasks (a few months) as indicated above, and
- A small number of individual experts from academia, public sector research establishments (PSREs) and industry advise directly or to join panels to interpret and assess the information and provide advice on future studies.
We also welcome informal contact and input on the themes described here.
