2026-08-10 マサチューセッツ工科大学（MIT）
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.mit.edu/2026/mit-researchers-tackle-economic-realities-fusion-power-0810
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10894-026-00577-9
核融合発電所の経済的実現可能性に関する基準 Criteria for the economic viability of fusion power plants
D. G. Whyte,A. Lo,R. Bielajew,M. Hancock,R. Moeykens & G. Shaw
Journal of Fusion Energy Published:10 July 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-026-00577-9
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, \(\mathrm {Q_{econ}}\), 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.
