The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled a $42 million initiative named Inertial Fusion Energy Science and Technology Accelerated Research (IFE-STAR). The program is aimed at creating hubs that will promote collaborative efforts in advancing the foundational science and technology of inertial fusion energy (IFE). The projects funded through IFE-STAR will draw on the expertise and resources from DOE’s National Laboratories, academia, and industry to drive the development of inertial fusion energy system components.
According to a press release by DOE, researchers from Colorado State University, the University of Rochester, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will lead the newly funded hubs under the IFE-STAR program. It's noteworthy that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a significant milestone last year by successfully initiating fusion ignition, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of generating energy from fusion. The IFE-STAR projects aim to build upon this success by addressing key research opportunities outlined in the IFE Basic Research Needs Workshop report and filling scientific and technological gaps identified in the technology roadmaps of IFE fusion companies participating in the Office of Science’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, "Harnessing fusion energy is one of the greatest scientific and technological challenges of the 21st Century." She added, "We now have confidence that it’s not only possible but probable that fusion energy can be a reality. The scientists in these hubs will be at the forefront of game-changing and planet-saving breakthroughs."
The DOE Office of Science plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific knowledge as it sponsors fundamental research in physical sciences. As per information in an article on the DOE website, managing ten national laboratories across the nation, it serves as a leading federal agency dedicated to supporting fundamental research aimed at enhancing energy production and ensuring national security.
