ARPA-E awards $32 million for fusion energy research

摘要

The winners of $32 million in funding for 15 projects to develop timely, commercially viable fusion energy were announced by the Department of Energy in April. Part of the DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy's (ARPA-E) Breakthroughs Enabling THermonuclear-fusion Energy (BETHE) program, the projects will work to increase the number and performance levels of lower-cost fusion concepts. "Fusion energy technology holds great potential to be a safe, clean, reliable energy source, but research and development of fusion technology is often constrained by prohibitive costs," said Undersecretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. "BETHE teams will build on recent progress in fusion research and the growing fusion community to lower costs and further foster viable commercial opportunities for the next generation of fusion technology." ARPA-E Director Lane Genatowski added, "These BETHE projects further advance ARPA-E's commitment to the development of fusion energy as a cost-competitive, viable, energy generation source. Commercially viable fusion energy can improve our chances of meeting global energy demand and will further establish U.S. technological lead in this crucial area."