DOE Fiscal Year 1994 Final Conference Report: Fusion

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, H.R. 2445, which provides funding for DOE programs and sealed the fate of the SSC, was signed into law by President Clinton on October 28. While previous FYIs tracked the SSC’s demise, this and the following FYI will provide details on fiscal year 1994 funding for other DOE physics-related research programs.

Below are selected portions of the House-Senate conference report language pertaining to fusion.

MAGNETIC FUSION:

“The conferees provide $347,595,000 [the full request] for the magnetic fusion energy program.” This amount equals the House’s allowance and exceeds the Senate’s. Fiscal year 1993 funding was $339,710,000.

“The conferees note with approval that the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) engineering design activity phase of the program has commenced. The conferees direct the Department of Energy to focus the Department’s magnetic fusion energy program on national program elements that further the design, construction, and operation of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor and a future fusion demonstration reactor.

“The Department is directed to set priorities for the domestic fusion program identifying those elements that contribute directly to the development of ITER or to the development of a fusion demonstration reactor. The Department will provide a plan that describes the selection process for the proposed site within the United States for ITER, the necessary steps that will lead to the final selection of a host site for ITER by the countries involved in the ITER program [Russia, Japan, and the European Community], and the schedule and critical path including milestones and budget that will be necessary to allow for the design, construction, and operation of ITER by 2005. Of the available funds, $64,000,000 is included for ITER design and R&D. Within available funds, $2,000,000 is provided to begin the evaluation and selection of a U.S. host site for ITER.

“The deuterium-tritium experiments that will be conducted on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), located at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), are to have the highest priority within the U.S. fusion energy program during fiscal year 1994.

“In support of ITER design and R&D tasks, and further development of a fusion demonstration reactor, $20,000,000 is included for design work on the Tokamak Physics Experiment (TPX). The successful operation of both TPX and ITER is necessary for the development of an attractive fusion demonstration reactor. The TPX facility will be a national facility that takes advantage of the site credits at PPPL. The Department is directed to ensure that U.S. industry is fully involved in the design of TPX. Thus, it is the intent of the conferees for the TPX project to proceed with design activity including industrial participation in the engineering design and R&D. The Department should utilize standard, phased, industrial contracts for these design activities with options for construction that would permit continuity and would allow the project, if it should be approved in the future, to be completed in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

“The Department is directed to proceed with the upgrade of the DIII-D tokamak facility including increasing operating time to expedite the formulation of design solutions for TPX and ITER.

“The conferees direct the Department to begin an aggressive low activation fusion materials program with the goal of developing and characterizing low activation materials that could be tested in ITER and utilized in a future demonstration power reactor.”

INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION:

DOE supports work in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) under two program areas. Research on ICF as an energy source is carried out within the Magnetic Fusion program, while weapons-related ICF research is performed within the Atomic Energy Defense Activities program.

Under the Magnetic Fusion program area, $4,000,000 [the full request] is provided for ICF, along with the following report language:

“The conferees agree with the House report language providing a $500,000 increase, within available funds, for inertial fusion energy, and strongly urge the Department to maintain a viable inertial fusion energy program and move forward with a timely decision on the Inertial Linac Systems Experiment that would allow, if a favorable decision is rendered, construction to begin in fiscal year 1995.”

Under Atomic Energy Defense Activities, $188,413,000 - also the full request - is provided for defense-related ICF.