Commerce grants CFS $85 million to harden fusion reactor electronics

Commonwealth Fusion Systems will spend $85 million in federal funds to build the power electronics needed to run fusion reactors. The Department of Commerce issued the award under the CHIPS Act, giving the government an equity stake in the company in exchange for the cash.

The money supports five specific development projects. The largest effort targets silicon carbide power electronics. These chips handle high voltages in electric vehicles, data centers, and cell phone towers. In a fusion plant, they drive the superconducting magnets that hold plasma in place.

CFS will also build next-generation radio-frequency power generators to heat fusion fuel. A third project focuses on control electronics that operate faster and withstand higher radiation levels. The company says radiation-hardened parts will last longer inside the plant, lowering long-term operating costs.

The final two initiatives involve adapting artificial intelligence hardware for power plant use. Specifically, the team will modify graphics processing units and tensor processing units for industrial environments. This work aims to integrate computing power directly into reactor operations.

Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer at CFS, explained the goal in a blog post. He said the funding creates a stronger U.S. supply chain for capable and economical power plants. Sorbom noted that the award boosts the domestic chip industry while moving fusion energy closer to the electrical grid.

The grant arrives as CFS prepares to switch on its Sparc reactor next year. That single machine serves as a proof of concept. Commercial success requires building dozens of plants, which demands reliable power electronics and a steady domestic supply of components. The new funding is designed to secure that supply.

The agreement expands CFS manufacturing capacity in the United States. The company will use the funds to advance research and production. This investment supports the transition from laboratory experiments to commercial power generation.