Core Insights - The Department of Energy (DOE) is implementing the Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap (FS&T Roadmap) to transition fusion energy from laboratory research to commercial viability by the mid-2030s [1][5] - The roadmap outlines a phased approach: near-term focus on digitalization and infrastructure, mid-term on prototype integration, and long-term on grid delivery and scale-up [2][3] Near-Term Actions - Emphasis on digitalization and infrastructure preparation to support fusion technology development [1] - Launch of the AI-Fusion Digital Convergence Platform to enhance materials discovery and plasma behavior prediction [4] Mid-Term Actions - Integration of prototypes to test and refine fusion technologies [2] - Construction of small-to-medium test facilities and design completion for large-scale "First-of-a-Kind" (FOAK) facilities [4] Long-Term Goals - Delivery of power to the grid from the first fleet of pilot plants [4] - Expansion of public infrastructure to support a global fusion market, aiming to lower the levelized cost of energy [4] Core Technical Challenges - The DOE has identified six core technical challenge areas to address gaps in fusion technology [3] - Key areas include structural materials, plasma-facing components, confinement systems, fuel cycle and tritium processing, blankets, and plant engineering [4][10] Material Development - Development of Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic (RAFM) steels and vanadium alloys to withstand neutron bombardment and minimize radioactive waste [11] - Focus on tungsten for plasma-facing components to handle extreme heat without contamination [12] Fusion Confinement Methods - The FS&T Roadmap pursues both Magnetic Confinement Fusion and Inertial Confinement Fusion [14] - Magnetic confinement utilizes High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets to stabilize plasma, with Tokamaks and Stellarators as primary architectures [15][18] Inertial Confinement Fusion - This method employs high-energy lasers to compress fuel pellets, igniting plasma through micro-explosions [19] - Companies involved in producing optical components and high-power diodes are critical to this approach [20] Tritium Breeding and Fuel Cycle - The DOE aims for a closed-loop fuel cycle to breed tritium using lithium-containing blankets, ensuring domestic supply and minimizing reliance on international sources [21] - Companies like Oklo and BWXT are involved in tritium production and breeding technologies [24][25] Blanket Technology - The blanket in fusion reactors is essential for energy conversion, tritium breeding, and radiation shielding [29] - The DOE is aligning advanced fission research and development with fusion technology to create a unified supply chain [30] Plant Engineering and Systems Integration - Focus on the Balance of Plant (BOP) to ensure reliability and efficiency in converting fusion energy to electricity [31] - Innovations such as Supercritical CO2 turbines are being prioritized for their efficiency and smaller footprint [32]