Report of the 1992 EPRI Fusion Panel

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Fusion Energy; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059522· OSTI ID:6582481

Hirsch, R L; Culler, F; Hingorani, N G; Taylor, J J; Schneider, T R; Spencer, D F ^[1]

---

1. Electric Power Research Institute, Washington, DC (United States)

Fusion is one of only a few very long-term (multi-century) options for the central station generation of electric power. As such, an informed awareness of the status of fusion development is important to the electric utilities and to EPRI. In its recent [open quotes]National Energy Strategy[close quotes] report, the U.S. Department of Energy states that it intends to carry out a goal-oriented fusion development strategy, with the aim of operating a demonstration plant by about 2025 and a commercial power plant by about 2040. Around the time the DOE was preparing this strategy, budget pressures caused them to narrow their civilian development program to the tokamak magnetic confinement concept. A significant research program on inertial confinement fusion is maintained primarily for defense purposes but with possible civilian application also. Many in the utility and engineering communities have raised questions about the suitability of both the tokamak and inertial confinement as commercial power sources, while recognizing their unquestioned pre-eminence in achieving fusion plasma conditions. These questions, coupled with a possible interest in becoming more involved in the development of fusion power, led EPRI senior management to establish a panel of senior executives to consider a wide range of conceivable fusion reactor opportunities. The purposes of the 1992 EPRI Fusion Study were as follows: 1. To evaluate a wide range of fusion concepts from a utility desirability standpoint. 2. To enhance EPRI's perspective in fusion. 3. To provide guidance to DOE on fusion concept characteristics important to utilities. 4. To provide a basis for re-establishing DOE-EPRI communication and cooperation in fusion.

• OSTI ID: 6582481
• Journal Information: Journal of Fusion Energy; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Fusion Energy; (United States) Vol. 11:3-4; ISSN JFENDS; ISSN 0164-0313
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700400* -- Fusion Technology-- (1992-)
DESIGN
EPRI
OPERATION
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
THERMONUCLEAR POWER PLANTS