Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has designed a model to help assess the economic impact of future fusion power plant operations-specifically, the operation of inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plants. Further, it has made its Generalized Economics Model (GEM) for Fusion Technology-an Excel spreadsheet-available for download.

The GEM is a "techno-economic" model that, according to LLNL, "assesses IFE power plant inputs relevant to diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) drive approach with indirect-drive targets. . . . GEM takes user inputs and determines cost estimates: capital cost, operating and maintenance costs, and cost of electricity. The model enables design optimization through 1-D sensitivity studies and parameter scans from user-inputs."

Mackenzie Nelson, a techno-economic systems analyst at LLNL's Livermore Institute for Fusion Technology (LIFT), explained that "GEM helps the fusion industry understand how to build an economically viable IFE power plant. LIFT is excited to make this available to the community as a means of tapping into our expertise in fusion technology."

LIFT director Tammy Ma said that "GEM is being released to the fusion community to enhance their toolkit as they think through how IFE power plants could work in practice. This is one of many unique capabilities developed at LLNL that has informed our understanding of fusion ignition and how that could help make fusion energy a reality."

Hub in action: In 2023, the Department of Energy established three IFE hubs, funding them with a total of $42 million over a period of four years. The hub that managed by LLNL, named STARFIRE, held a Winter School at the University of California at Los Angeles that included an introduction to the GEM model.

Integrated Process Model: A software license for more full-featured version of the model, known as the Integrated Process Model for Inertial Fusion Energy, is available for purchase.