Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research
2019

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Fusion offers the prospect of virtually unlimited energy. The United States and many nations around the world have made enormous progress toward achieving fusion energy. With ITER scheduled to go online within a decade and demonstrate controlled fusion ten years later, now is the right time for the United States to develop plans to benefit from its investment in burning plasma research and take steps to develop fusion electricity for the nation's future energy needs. At the request of the Department of Energy, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine organized a committee to develop a strategic plan for U.S. fusion research. The final report's two main recommendations are: (1) The United States should remain an ITER partner as the most cost-effective way to gain experience with a burning plasma at the scale of a power plant. (2) The United States should start a national program of accompanying research and technology leading to the construction of a compact pilot plant that produces electricity from fusion at the lowest possible capital cost.

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340 pages · 7 x 10 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-48743-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-48744-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25331

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xvi
Executive Summary 1-3
1 Introduction 4-19
2 Progress in Burning Plasma Science and Technology 20-59
3 Extending the Frontier of Burning Plasma Research 60-88
4 Advancing Magnetic Fusion Toward an Economical Energy Source 89-133
5 Strategic Guidance for a National Program for Burning Plasma Science and Technology 134-152
6 Comments on Organizational Structure and Program Balance 153-172
Appendixes 173-174
Appendix A: Statement of Task 175-176
Appendix B: Agendas from Committee Meetings and Site Visits 177-184
Appendix C: Strategic Planning for U.S. Burning Plasma Research from 2000 to 2018 185-198
Appendix D: Bibliography of Previous Studies Consulted by the Committee 199-201
Appendix E: Published Technical References Consulted by the Committee 202-212
Appendix F: Summary of Input Received from the Fusion Community 213-220
Appendix G: Major Research Facilities of the United States and Other Nations 221-239
Appendix H: Schedule and Budget Implications 240-250
Appendix I: Interim Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research 251-312
Appendix J: Biographies of Committee Members 313-320
Appendix K: Acronyms 321-324

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Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research (2019)

Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task

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Final Report of the Committee on a Strategic Plan for U.S. Burning Plasma Research (2019)

Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task