The Department of Energy has allocated $29 million in funding to support seven projects that will harness artificial intelligence to tackle challenges in fusion energy research.
DOE said Thursday fusion and plasma science researchers from 19 institutions will employ autonomous technologies such as machine learning and AI for the effort, additionally utilizing data management techniques.
Their studies will delve into scientific discovery, diagnostic data analysis, model extraction, plasma control, extreme-scale simulation data analysis and data-driven predictions. Several of the awards will emphasize the development of data management systems and are positioned to ensure that research products are accessible via public databases.
Chosen via a competitive peer review process, the projects will span a maximum of three years, with $11 million earmarked for fiscal year 2023, subject to additional congressional appropriations.
“These awards will advance a broad set of capabilities across the Fusion Energy Sciences program, making essential capabilities available for all stakeholders,” commented Jean Paul Allain, associate director of science for FES at the DOE.
FES is a research initiative focused on facilitating the development of practical, safe and environmentally responsible fusion energy as a source of power.
