Criteria for the economic viability of fusion power plants

TL;DR

This paper introduces a generalized framework to evaluate the economic viability of fusion power plants, independent of specific technology, using normalized parameters and a new economic gain criterion.

Contribution

It develops a universal, normalized model for assessing fusion plant economics, enabling broad application across different fusion concepts and guiding design and operational tradeoffs.

Findings

Derived the economic gain factor $Q_{econ}$ with ten key normalized parameters.

Provided insights into how design, cost, and operational variables affect economic viability.

Established criteria that are independent of plant size and specific fusion technology.

Abstract

Commercial fusion energy requires frameworks to assess both the scientific and economic viability of a wide variety of fusion concepts. Inspired by the Lawson criterion's ability to universally describe fusion energy gain, a generalized framework is developed to determine the economic gain of fusion power plants. The model exploits temporal equilibrium, and engineering and cost parameters normalized to the energy capture surface. The derived criteria for economic gain are therefore independent of the power plant's absolute power, impartial to the particulars of its fusion technology, and can be applied to any fusion confinement concept. The derivation of the economic gain factor, $Q_{econ}$, results in nonlinear equations with ten controlling normalized design parameters ranging from fusion power density and surface component lifetime to energy fluence, price of energy, and component efficiency and cost. These ten controlling parameters are varied over a wide range to provide high-level insights in design, finance and operational tradeoffs that improve the prospects for economically viable fusion energy.