FY 1997 Department of Energy Budget Request: Fusion Energy Sciences

DOE funds research on fusion energy within its Office of Energy Research. Details of the FY 1997 request for Fusion Energy Sciences, from DOE’s “FY 1997 Congressional Budget Request: Budget Highlights” document, are quoted below:

FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES

“In its July 1995 report on the Fusion Energy program, the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) concluded that the promise of an economical and environmentally attractive fusion energy source for the future is a reasonable and important endeavor for the nation. Furthermore, the committee concluded that research and development on fusion is a valuable investment in the nation’s energy future as well as sustaining an important field of scientific research - plasma science. In response to FY 1996 funding reductions, the Fusion Energy Advisory Committee (FEAC) recently released its report titled `A Restructured Fusion Energy Sciences Program.’ The committee recommended a program that would include an increased emphasis on plasma science, continued operation of the three major United States tokamak facilities through 1997, and continued active U.S. participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Engineering Design Activities. The Department has accepted all of the committee’s recommendations in principle, and the program is making a transition from a schedule-driven energy technology development program to an energy sciences research program. The mission of the restructured program is to advance plasma science, fusion science, and fusion technology - the knowledge needed for an economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source.

“While the current budget situation does not permit the program budget to be increased to the $275 million level recommended by the FEAC, the $255.6 million requested is less than four percent below the recommended level, when $8 million in program direction funds are included.

“At the requested funding level, the program will pursue three goals: (1) advance plasma science in pursuit of national science and technology goals, (2) develop fusion science and technology and innovations in plasma confinement approaches to fusion, and (3) pursue fusion energy science and technology goals as a partner in an international effort.”

“The FY 1997 budget request for Fusion Energy Sciences is $255.6 million, a $28.2 million increase over FY 1996. Activities to be funded are consistent with recommendations made in the Fusion Energy Advisory Committee Report.... The program will refocus on critical basic science and technology foundations while maintaining its commitment to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). DOE will continue to participate in the ITER Engineering Design Activities into FY 1998 (FY 1996 - $55.0 million, FY 1997 - $55.0 million), and will begin negotiating the extent of its participation in ITER construction; DOE will not, however, seek to host the ITER facility. Funding will allow completion of the experimental program at the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) at Princeton prior to its shutdown in either FY 1997 or FY 1998. Enhanced equipment funding supports two Major Items of Equipment: the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment at Princeton ([Total Estimated Cost] $18.5 million, FY 1997 - $5.0 million, complete FY 1999) will reconfigure existing equipment to study Tokamak innovations; the upgrade to the DIII-D at General Atomics (TEC $32.4 million, FY 1996 - $0.7 million, FY 1997 - $4.0 million, complete FY 1999) provides an advanced heat removal system, allowing the facility to be used for ITER related research. The proposed Tokamak Physics Experiment project at Princeton was terminated in FY 1996.”

Highlights of Program Changes

In response to FEAC report:

Increased funding for Fusion and Plasma Science. +$18.8 million

Fusion Technologies provides increase for materials research. +$1.0 million

Initiate National Spherical Tokamak Experiment at Princeton and continue equipment upgrade for DIII-D at General Atomics +$8.8 million

Other equipment upgrades +$1.1 million