FES Research: Closing the Fusion Cycle
Achieving fusion energy production requires solving a variety of challenges. A fusion power plant will require producing fusion fuel and developing tools to support the system.
FES aims to develop the scientific foundation and technologies to breed (produce) and process fusion fuels. A fuel must be readily available, relatively easy to produce, and possible to store. While fusion can occur with many different elements, most of them will not fuse outside of the interior of a star.
The most promising fuel for fusion on Earth is deuterium-tritium fuel. This fuel is made of isotopes of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. Deuterium-tritium fuel reaches fusion conditions at lower temperatures than other elements and releases more energy than similar fusion reactions. Deuterium is fairly common. While tritium is not, there is a process to produce it. FES is supporting research to produce tritium as part of a subsystem of a fusion power plant. This subsystem would make power plants self-sufficient without needing to rely on outside sources for their tritium supply.
Other needed subsystems will sustain plasma conditions, extract energy, and manage waste. FES research aims to build the capabilities to design and improve each system while integrating them efficiently. This effort includes:
- Developing the next generation of real-time systems for plasma control,
- Enabling R&D that includes high-field magnets and liquid metal plasma facing components,
- Creating and testing blankets that breed fusion fuel, and
- Prototyping fuel-processing technologies that can optimize and sustain the fusion reaction.
Learn more about research supported by the Fusion Energy Sciences program:
