[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48605-48606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12539]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Fusion Energy Public-Private Consortium Framework

AGENCY: Fusion Energy Sciences, Office of Science, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Office of Science (SC) in the Department of Energy (DOE) 
invites interested parties to provide input on a proposed fusion energy 
public-private consortium framework (PPCF). The proposed PPCF would aim 
to amplify Federal funding, by catalyzing and bringing together State/
local government, private, philanthropic funding, and partnerships to 
accelerate fusion energy research, development, demonstration, and 
deployment (RDD&D). Through a phased approach, the PPCF would deliver 
and operate small-to-medium scale test stands and conduct research and 
development (R&D) with these tools. The proposed PPCF will help resolve 
significant, remaining Science & Technology (S&T) gaps to a 
commercially relevant fusion pilot plant (FPP). A PPCF is needed at 
this time to achieve the pace of R&D and project delivery with the 
required funding within the United States (U.S.) Bold Decadal Vision 
(BDV) timeframe. The proposed PPCF is envisioned to be executed by a 
network of regional teams that would stimulate economic development and 
domestic fusion supply chains anchored in fusion S&T translation and 
innovation.

DATES: Responses to this RFI must be received by July 22, 2024.
    Webinar: DOE will hold a public webinar on Thursday, July 11, 2024, 
from 3-4 p.m. ET. Connection information can be found here: https://science-doe.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_8eAg3pUVSZC3vKiF7pycFw.

ADDRESSES: DOE is using the www.regulations.gov system for the 
submission and posting of public comments in this proceeding. All 
comments in response to this RFI are therefore to be submitted 
electronically through www.regulations.gov, via the web form accessed 
by following the ``Submit a Formal Comment'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be submitted to 
[email protected] or to Colleen Nehl at (301) 903-4920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To support development of a competitive 
fusion power industry in the U.S., the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) 
program is exploring the near-term feasibility of a fusion energy 
public-private consortium framework (PPCF). This PPCF, inspired by the 
successful 1980s public-private partnership (PPP) between the 
Department of Defense and Sematech,1 2 would support the 
U.S. BDV.\3\
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    \1\ The purpose of Sematech was to (1) conduct research on 
advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques and (2) develop 
techniques to use manufacturing expertise for the manufacture of a 
variety of semiconductor products; https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/Science_and_Technology/10-F-0709_A_Final_Report_to_the_Department_of_Defense_February_21_1987.pdf
.
    \2\ https://www.csis.org/analysis/implementing-chips-act-sematechs-lessons-national-semiconductor-technology-center.
    \3\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/03/15/fact-sheet-developing-a-bold-vision-for-commercial-fusion-energy.
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    The proposed PPCF would aim to accelerate fusion energy RDD&D and 
amplify Federal funding by bringing together State/local government, 
private, and philanthropic funding, with an initial focus on delivering 
and operating small-to-medium scale test stands and conducting R&D with 
these tools to help resolve significant, remaining S&T gaps (aligned 
with FPP technology roadmaps of private-sector fusion developers and 
critical supply-chain providers).\4\ A key rationale for pursuing a 
PPCF at this time is because the required funding and pace of R&D and 
project delivery are not readily achievable within the BDV timeframe. 
The proposed PPCF is envisioned to be executed (e.g., tool delivery and 
operation, R&D, growing supply chains, and broader engagements/
activities to support fusion demonstration and commercialization) by a 
network of regional ecosystems that will build upon local expertise, 
stimulate economic development, and bolster domestic supply chains 
anchored in fusion S&T translation and innovation.\5\
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    \4\ The S&T gaps and critical testing platforms, discussed in 
multiple recent consensus expert reports and ongoing FESAC charges, 
will be formally laid out in a national fusion S&T roadmap under 
development by FES.
    \5\ The PPCF is also partially inspired by J. Gruber and S. 
Johnson, Jump-starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive 
Economic Growth and the American Dream (Public Affairs, New York, 
2019).
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    The PPCF would be aligned and coordinated with various priority 
initiatives of the BDV and the SC FES program, such as the Milestone-
Based Fusion Development Program \6\ (``Milestone Program'') and Fusion 
Innovation Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives,\7\ taking advantage 
of regional capabilities and investing in infrastructure (e.g., test 
and manufacturing tools) to de-risk fusion S&T.
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    \6\ Program announcement: https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/department-energy-announces-50-million-milestone-based-fusion-development-program; selections: https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-46-million-commercial-fusion-energy-development.
    \7\ The new FES FIRE (Fusion Innovation Research Engine) 
Collaboratives program will consist of virtual, centrally managed 
teams (led by national laboratories and/or universities) called 
``Collaboratives.'' This program bridges FES's foundational research 
programs to the work and needs of the growing fusion industry. 
https://science.osti.gov/fes/-/media/grants/pdf/foas/2024/DE-FOA-0003361.pdf,
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    The purpose of the PPCF would be to (1) conduct applied R&D to help 
address and resolve common, priority S&T gaps in the technology 
roadmaps of private-sector-led FPPs aligned with the SC FES Fusion 
Science & Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, with an emphasis on pre-
competitive R&D (2) deliver and operate critical test platforms for 
the benefit of all consortium members; and (3) stimulate the growth of 
supply chains that will be needed to support fusion demonstration and 
deployment. The vision of the consortium would be to enable timely 
commercial fusion demonstration and deployment led by the private 
sector and to help establish a world-leading and vibrant U.S. fusion 
industry.

Questions for Input

    SC is issuing this RFI to seek input on the vision, mission, 
impact, near-to-medium term feasibility, including funding, and 
structure of the proposed fusion energy PPCF. Responses should address/
discuss any or all of the following topics (limit all responses to five 
pages total):
     PPCF vision, mission, impact (including proposed examples 
discussed previously):
     How can a PPCF provide incentives from both public and 
private sector to invest in common Fusion Materials & Technology (FM&T) 
de-risk capabilities?
     What are some cost-share models that could incentivize the 
private sector in engaging with local, State, and Federal government to 
address FM&T gaps?
     What are the priority S&T gaps in the technology roadmaps 
of private-sector-led FPPs which a PPCF could address?
     What will be the impact of the PPCF, as envisioned?
     How can a PPCF help support supply chains, community 
engagement and technology adoption of fusion energy in the long term?
     On which topics should a public-private consortium 
framework focus? Possible topics include (but are not limited to): the 
fusion fuel cycle,

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blankets, structural materials, and gyrotrons.
     What are some public-private consortia models that could 
be emulated or adapted to best serve the needs of the U.S. in 
establishing a robust fusion power industry?
     Near-to-medium term (in the next three, five, and ten 
years) feasibility of a fusion energy PPCF:
     Which sources of funding are likely to be available from 
non-Federal sources (including State/local governments, private sector, 
philanthropy)?
     How can universities and national laboratories support a 
fusion energy PPCF and what important roles can they serve?
     What is the expected amount of funding needed to make a 
meaningful impact toward bridging S&T gaps?
     What type of work (in both delivery/operation of tools and 
associated R&D) would be considered ``pre-competitive?''
     What are key short-term fusion FM&T capabilities needed 
now that could be supported through a PPCF and what are some longer-
term capabilities that should be considered?
     PPCF organizational structure and relationship to DOE:
     Which flexibilities may be required to meet S&T goals in 
the areas of intellectual property, U.S. manufacturing, research 
security, foreign work, and partnerships, etc.?
     How may the PPCF stimulate partnerships with State/local 
governments and economic development in communities? How about 
international partnerships?
     What organizational structures may work to achieve the 
mission, vision, and impact of the proposed PPCF?

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 3, 
2024, by Harriet Kung, Acting Director, Office of Science, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. The document with the 
original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative 
purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the 
Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer 
has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic 
format for publication, as an official document of the Department of 
Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect 
of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 4, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-12539 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P