Fusion Chips: Commerce Awards $85 Million to Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) will receive $85 million from the U.S. government to develop semiconductors for fusion power plants.

The funding comes from a CHIPS Act award issued by the Department of Commerce. The agreement also grants the federal government an equity stake in the company. CFS stated that the money will expand domestic manufacturing capacity and support research and development.

The company is currently working to activate its Sparc reactor, a demonstration machine scheduled to begin operations sometime in 2027. While a single reactor serves as a proof of concept, commercial fusion facilities will require more durable power electronics and a reliable supply chain to operate at scale.

Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer at CFS, wrote in a blog post that the investment leads to a more capable and economical power plant. He added that it strengthens the U.S. supply chain necessary to build these facilities.

The award targets five specific initiatives. The first involves advancing silicon carbide power electronics. These semiconductors manage high voltages and are used in electric vehicles, data centers, and cell phone base stations. In fusion reactors, they drive the superconducting magnets that confine plasma.

CFS also plans to develop next-generation radio-frequency power generators used to heat fusion fuel. A third effort focuses on electronics that allow for faster reactor control and are hardened against radiation. The company said these components could extend the lifespan of hardware inside a power plant, which would lower operating costs. The final initiative involves adapting artificial intelligence hardware, including GPUs and TPUs, for use in fusion plants.

Sorbom said the funding improves the U.S. chip and power electronics industries while accelerating the progress of fusion energy toward the electrical grid.