Key enabling technologies for fusion power plants (European Partnership on Fusion Energy)

Expected Outcome:

the action is expected to mature and demonstrate (TRL 6-8) innovative technologies in one of the technology areas set out within the scope of the topic:

• developing and advancing the technology readiness of innovative individual components and/or integrated systems that perform the key functions of fusion power plants (FPPs), in line with the technology area targeted;
• testing the innovative components and/or systems developed in close-to-real-life conditions, demonstrating the ability to deliver fusion-grade components and/or systems;
• providing a credible business case, clarifying the potential and perspectives for the commercialisation of the components and/or systems developed, and showing the benefits for the competitiveness and growth of EU companies from the fusion field.

Scope:

actions funded under this topic are expected to address one of the following technology areas of relevance that are key to the development of future fusion power plants:

• tritium breeding;
• fuel cycle;
• high-power lasers and optical technologies for inertial confinement fusion;
• targets for inertial confinement fusion;
• fusion-grade materials;
• qualification of reactor components in a relevant operational plasma scenario (including high neutron load);
• digital technologies (including modelling and simulation);
• the engineering design of future key enabling fusion facilities;
• any other technology relevant to FPPs.

Proposals should clearly indicate which one of these key areas they address and should, for this purpose and for the technology area(s) targeted:

• clarify the technology gaps / bottlenecks addressed by the proposed projects, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the needs and drivers towards viable FPPs, and of the state of the art for the technology area under consideration;
• set out the envisioned technology advances, making clear how the proposed innovation would make it possible to improve the performance of the components and/or systems developed, relying as much as possible on quantitative targets and / or key performance indicators;
• describe in detail the approaches to testing and demonstrating the components and/or systems developed, clearly indicating the technology readiness level targeted and the process by which technology maturation will be monitored;
• enable close cooperation between public research and private companies (start-ups, SMEs and industry). This should be reflected in the composition of the consortium and in the proposed project’s activities;
• demonstrate the business potential of the proposed innovation within and also (where relevant) beyond the fusion field, including its potential to support EU’s energy security independence and competitiveness, by contributing to the achievement of the commercialisation of fusion energy;
• where relevant, demonstrate a thorough understanding of the safety constraints on the deployment in FPPs of the components and/or systems developed;
• where relevant, outline how the proposed work would build on and articulate with the results and activities from other relevant EU initiatives (e.g. the EUROfusion partnership and the Fusion for Energy joint undertaking ^[1]).

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Fusion Energy ^[2] and will probably be amended in order to align its scope with the Partnership’s SRIA, once this has been published.

[1] https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/

[2] It is expected that the European Partnership on Fusion Energy will be established and its strategic research and innovation agenda (SRIA) will be available when the call opens. Proposals should therefore explain how the proposed action aligns with the SRIA’s technology priorities and proposed projects should include activities designed to contributing to the European Partnership on Fusion Energy (e.g. contributing to the monitoring of the Partnership, supporting the Partnership’s communication and dissemination activities, and ensuring an effective liaison with the Partnership’s Board and the European Commission).