Commonwealth Fusion Systems to Spend $85 Million on New Chips
A federal CHIPS Act grant will fund the development of radiation-resistant electronics and silicon carbide components for fusion reactors.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Commonwealth Fusion Systems will receive $85 million from the U.S. government to build advanced semiconductors for fusion power plants. The Department of Commerce issued the award under the CHIPS Act on Thursday. The agreement also grants the federal government a stake in the company.
The company announced the funding in a blog post. CFS stated that the money will expand domestic manufacturing capacity and strengthen research and development. The award is one of several recent moves as the fusion industry pushes to complete its first demonstration machines.
CFS is currently preparing to switch on its Sparc reactor next year. While a single reactor serves as a proof of concept, commercial operations will require durable power electronics and a reliable supply chain. The company aims to build dozens of plants to generate electricity for the grid.
The $85 million will support five specific initiatives. The first involves advancing silicon carbide power electronics. These semiconductors manage high voltages and are used in electric vehicles, cell phone base stations, and data centers. In fusion machines, they drive the superconducting magnets that confine plasma.
The second initiative focuses on developing next-generation radio-frequency power generators. These devices are used to heat fusion fuel. The third effort targets advanced electronics designed for faster reactor control. These components are hardened against radiation to extend their lifespan and reduce operating costs within a power plant.
The final initiative involves adapting artificial intelligence hardware for use in power plants. This includes graphics processing units and tensor processing units. Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer at CFS, said the funding would help improve the U.S. chip and power electronics industries while accelerating fusion energy's progress toward the electrical grid.
The company plans to use the funds to expand its research capabilities. The development of radiation-tough chips is a key step toward making commercial fusion power economically viable.
