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Fusion Energy: Additional Planning Would Strengthen DOE’s Efforts to Facilitate Commercialization

Fusion Energy: Additional Planning Would Strengthen DOE’s Efforts to Facilitate Commercialization

Full Title: Fusion Energy: Additional Planning Would Strengthen DOE's Efforts to Facilitate Commercialization
Author(s): U.S. Government Accountability Office
Publisher(s): U.S. Government Accountability Office
Publication Date: January 10, 2025
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

Fusion, the process that powers the sun, could produce commercial electric power to help meet growing clean energy needs if technical, economic, and other challenges are overcome. Fusion is also one of five prioritized areas to meet the U.S. goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Congress appropriated about $760 million for FES in fiscal year 2023 to support fusion activities, including public-private partnerships.

GAO was asked to examine DOE’s steps to reach the federal vision to accelerate fusion energy commercialization. This report examines (1) the status of DOE’s initiatives to facilitate fusion energy commercialization, and (2) the extent to which DOE has planned for facilitating such commercialization.

GAO reviewed DOE documents; analyzed budgetary data; and interviewed federal officials and a nongeneralizable sample of eight stakeholders representing universities, industry, and interest groups. GAO selected these stakeholders based on their participation in or publication about DOE’s fusion energy initiatives, and to provide a range of perspectives.

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