DOE to Award $30M Grant for AI-Powered Fusion Research

The Department of Energy plans to grant $30M for new fusion energy studies that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning methods.

A total of $17M will be used on AI technology for plasma phenomena prediction, operations management and accelerated discovery while $13M will be used for fundamental fusion theory research, DOE announced Wednesday. 

Department Secretary Dan Brouillette said AI technologies will be key in transforming fusion energy into a practical energy source. The $17M AI fund will be available to research organizations and companies as a two to three-year grant. Depending on congressional appropriations, up to $7M of the theory research funds may be awarded within the 2020 fiscal year.     

“By allocating $30 million towards fusion energy, the Department of Energy is continuing its commitment to advance scientific research and U.S. global competitiveness,” Undersecretary for Science Paul Dabbar said. “This funding only emphasizes our support for artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.”