image: The illustration depicts computer graphics of the plasma vessel, shown in pink, and superconducting magnet coils of the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device.
Credit: Illustration courtesy of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
A new 10-year project agreement will advance research on the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator, an experimental fusion energy system, paving the way for continued collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Germany.
“This agreement reflects our deep commitment to international partnerships that accelerate progress in fusion energy,” said Jean Paul Allain, director of the Office of Fusion at DOE. “The collaboration between the United States and IPP on W7-X has been extraordinarily productive for more than 20 years already, and this agreement pushes us forward into the next decade and beyond.”
This collaboration between DOE and IPP is the first project to be established under a new model project framework between the United States and the European Commission, setting a standard for how the U.S. and the EU structure joint fusion research efforts.
PPPL is a key player in stellarator research
W7-X is designed to demonstrate the viability of the stellarator concept for generating net energy by confining particles of plasma — the fourth state of matter — in the shape of a twisted doughnut. Since beginning operations in December 2015, W7-X has achieved a series of record-setting results, drawing on expertise and contributions from research institutions around the world, including the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).
“PPPL is significantly engaged in the W7-X program in essentially every way — equipment, personnel and publications — and this framework shows our long‑term commitment to collaborative research with both the European Commission and IPP,” said Novimir Pablant, a principal research physicist at PPPL.
The model project framework is designed to reduce the administrative burden of new partnerships, help managers follow best practices and make it easier for oversight bodies to review the project for compliance. Additionally, the new framework will streamline processes for initiating and expanding fusion research projects between DOE and research facilities located in the European Union.
“Our collaboration with DOE has been a key factor in the major successes we have achieved at W7-X since the first plasma was produced in 2015. We are delighted to be able to continue our joint work,” said Sibylle Günter, scientific director of IPP.
The agreement was signed by DOE’s Allain and Günter and developed through close coordination between DOE and IPP, with key contributions from Matthew Lanctot, DOE program manager for stellarators, Peter Kurz of IPP and PPPL’s Pablant.
Providing a framework for partnerships with DOE
“Instead of starting from scratch every time, we now have a consistent legal framework for collaboration, which will make new partnerships easier to set up and more consistent,” said Pablant, adding that the new model project framework lays a solid foundation for future public-private partnerships.
PPPL is committed to accelerating the path to commercial fusion energy through strategic partnerships with private industry. The Lab’s Fusion Research and Technology Hub, for example, will provide fusion companies with the ideal facilities for fusion experiments without the enormous capital expense typically required. Companies will also have direct access to the scientific expertise accumulated over the Lab’s 75 years of operations.
“PPPL’s working agreements on W7-X are a good example of what a successful collaboration with a private company could look like, especially one involving a major public sector effort,” Pablant said.
PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma — the fourth state of matter — to solve some of the world’s toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications, including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and https://www.pppl.gov.