Techno-economic Analysis of Deuterium-Tritium Magnetic Confinement Fusion Power Plants

Abstract

This thesis presents the techno-economic analysis of Deuterium-Tritium Magnetic Confinement Fusion Power Plants (FPP), tailored to enhance the economic viability and scalability of FPPs in response to global energy challenges and climate change. Amidst a backdrop of substantial investments in fusion technology, totaling $6.2 billion to date, this study critically assesses the overnight capital costs of a FPP that hosts ARAI, a 350 MWe tokamak reactor based on the MIT ARC fusion concept. This research evaluates the economic viability of constructing an Nth-of-a-kind ARAI-FPP. The overnight capital costs for ARAI-FPP are estimated to range between $8,800/kW and $22,200/kW, with this variation largely driven by differing regulatory and manufacturing assumptions. The overall cost breakdown is found to be similar to past and recent fusion literature, where the direct cost of fusion reactor equipment is the largest cost driver. The Levelized Cost of Electricity is estimated to be between $140/MWh and $550/MWh. The findings aim to deepen the understanding of absolute and relative cost drivers in fusion energy and suggest strategies to improve its economic feasibility. The analysis highlights the significant role of fabrication costs and regulatory frameworks in influencing cost dynamics.