Commonwealth Fusion Systems gets $85M to build chips

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) announced on Thursday that it has been awarded $85 million in funding from the United States government to develop advanced chips and semiconductors specifically tailored for the nuclear fusion power industry.

As fusion energy startups race to complete their inaugural demonstration devices, with CFS aiming to fire up its Sparc reactor next year, constructing a single reactor serves merely as a proof point. Should these startups intend to build dozens of commercial power plants, they will require highly durable power electronics alongside a robust supply chain.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The fresh funding stems from a CHIPS Act award facilitated by the Department of Commerce, which simultaneously grants the federal government an equity stake in CFS. The company stated that the capital will help accelerate research, development, and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors within the United States.

"Ultimately, that means a more capable, economical power plant and a stronger U.S. supply chain to build it."

Brandon Sorbom, Co-founder and Chief Science Officer at CFS

The award secured by CFS will be directed toward five distinct initiatives. The primary focus involves advancing silicon carbide power electronics, semiconductors widely utilized for managing high voltages across LEDs, electric vehicles, cell phone base stations, and data centers. These components are equally vital in fusion machines, where intense electrical bursts drive superconducting magnets to confine plasma.