Fusion Energy Moves Toward Reality
Fusion energy is moving from theory to construction. Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ 400-MW ARC reactor in Virginia—backed by major investments and PPAs from Google and Eni—signals commercial readiness.
Spun out in 2018 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is pursuing one of the most advanced paths toward commercial fusion energy.
CFS is structured as a commercial enterprise, focused on deploying a tokamak design enhanced by high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. This approach enables stronger magnetic fields in a more compact device, potentially cutting both cost and development time on the path to operational fusion power.
At the end of 2024, the company announced plans to build the world’s first commercial fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Author summary: Fusion energy becomes a reality.