Commonwealth Fusion Systems gets $85M to build better fusion-ready semiconductors
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has received $85 million from the U.S. government via the CHIPS Act to develop specialized semiconductors for fusion energy. The funding aims to improve reactor efficiency and supply chain robustness.
Why it matters
Integrating advanced chip manufacturing with fusion energy development is a critical step toward commercializing clean, high-output power.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) announced on Thursday that it would receive $85 million from the U.S. government to develop advanced chips for the fusion power industry.
Fusion power startups have been racing to complete their first demonstration devices, with CFS aiming to turn on its Sparc reactor sometime next year. But building one reactor is just a proof point. If fusion startups want to build dozens of commercial power plants, they’ll need more durable power electronics and a robust supply chain.
The new CHIPS Act award from the Department of Commerce, which also grants the government a stake in CFS, will help boost R&D and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors in the U.S., the company said.
“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, wrote in a blog post .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in