The Path from ITER to a Power Plant – Initial Results from the ARIES “Pathways” Program

The US national power plant studies program, ARIES, has initiated a 3-year integrated study, called the “Pathways Program” to investigate what the fusion program needs to do, in addition to successful operation of the ITER, in order to transform fusion into a commercial reality. The US power industry and regulatory agencies view the demonstration power plant, DEMO, as a device which is build and operated by industry, possibly with government participation, to demonstrate the commercial readiness of fusion power. As such, the “Pathways” programs will investigate what is needed, in addition to successful operation of ITER, to convince industry to move forward with a fusion DEMO.