U.S. Department of Energy awards $8.5 million for fusion research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $8.5 million to 28 research projects to address scientific and technological hurdles in the development of commercial fusion energy. Managed through the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program, the funding supports collaborations between national laboratories, universities, and 22 private commercial enterprises.

Selected research areas include materials science, plasma diagnostic development, and modeling and simulation. Specific projects involve partnerships such as the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) working with Helion Energy to study plasma stability and heat retention, and collaborations with Kyoto Fusioneering to simulate the effects of magnetic fields on liquid metals.

The INFUSE program aims to accelerate fusion technology development by bridging the gap between fundamental scientific expertise and the practical engineering challenges faced by private companies. The awards, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per project, align with the DOE’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap.