R&D Needs for a U.S. Fusion Magnet Base Program

Significant technology maturation efforts are underway by private fusion startups with the goal to demonstrate mature HTS magnet technology. To support the private sector development effort, the U.S. Fusion Magnet Community Workshop was held on March 14–15, 2023 in Princeton, NJ. This was the first U.S. community workshop focused on fusion magnet technologies aimed at determining the structure and technical direction for a public program designed to complement the private fusion industry landscape. Based on the wide range of different contributions, a set of general themes and R&D needs were identified and discussed. Feedback highlighted critical R&D gaps such as availability of existing large cable and coil test facilities, a magnet education program that can generate a trained and essential workforce by leveraging R&D capabilities of universities, national labs, and fusion industry. Other opportunities synergistic and complementary with high energy physics, high field magnets that are open for a broad range of science drivers. The defined R&D gaps underpin the need for a mid-term and long-term public program in fusion magnet, in developing the rationale and consent for such a base program. A self-consistent, fusion specific magnet program will complement and de-risk fusion pilot plants of promising magnetic configurations developed by private companies on a timeline consistent with the goal of bringing fusion to the U.S. grid. We describe magnet challenges presented and R&D needs discussed in the workshop. These challenges and R&D needs provide focus for the development of mid-term and long term roadmaps on enabling HTS for fusion.