Nuclear fusion energy, heralded as clean, safe, and sustainable, holds the promise of providing vast energy without the burden of high-level radioactive waste. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a pioneering fusion company based in Massachusetts, is at the forefront of this transformative energy landscape. With its flagship fusion project SPARC, CFS aims to revolutionize the clean-energy sector by harnessing infinite carbon-free power. Since its establishment in 2018, the company has secured a staggering $2 billion in funding, solidifying its position as the world’s largest private fusion enterprise.
Recently, CFS made waves in the scientific community with the announcement of a groundbreaking achievement – the successful construction and testing of the Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC). This innovative electromagnet represents a significant step towards utilizing clean fusion energy for powering the grid. The CSMC test, in conjunction with the previously tested Toroidal Field Model Coil (TFMC) in 2021, validates the functionality of two crucial high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets essential for SPARC’s tokamak machine. The TFMC demonstrated the magnets’ ability to sustain steady electrical currents, while the CSMC showcased their capability to handle pulsed electrical currents. Brandon Sorbom, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of CFS, emphasized the milestone achieved, stating, “This is an important step towards commercialization. The successful performance of the magnet in meeting all test objectives underscores the remarkable progress made by our team in developing this technology from concept to a fully integrated, at-scale superconducting magnet within a short span of time.”
The press release also highlighted CFS’s development of PIT VIPER, an advanced HTS cable technology designed to power SPARC’s central solenoid (CS) and poloidal field (PF) magnets. PIT VIPER’s innovative design minimizes heating during rapid current changes, enabling the high-performance operation of the magnets. Key test results from the Central Solenoid Model Coil include handling electrical currents up to 50,000 amps, generating a magnetic field of 5.7 teslas (100,000 times Earth’s magnetic strength), releasing energy rapidly at 4 teslas per second, storing a record 3.7 megajoules of energy, and utilizing fiber optics for detecting overheating events to ensure magnet safety.
The successful testing of the CSMC underscores CFS’s leadership in magnet technology, with the company scaling up PIT VIPER cable production and demonstrating its proficiency in designing and operating magnets under SPARC-like conditions. Collaborating with experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the tests were conducted at MIT’s Plasma Science & Fusion Center (PSFC). Looking ahead, CFS plans to achieve the first plasma with SPARC in 2026 and aims to attain net energy production shortly thereafter. The company’s inaugural power plant, ARC, is slated to deliver electricity to the grid in the early 2030s. Ted Golfinopoulos, a principal investigator at MIT for the CSMC project, commended the team’s collective effort, stating, “The ingenuity, perseverance, and dedication displayed by this close-knit team throughout the development and testing of the coil are as impressive as the coil itself.”
Notably, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA–E) and Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) programs have supported this innovative endeavor. Commonwealth Fusion Systems is poised to revolutionize the energy landscape by transforming coal plants with nuclear fusion technology. While traditional Tokamak designs have shown the potential for triggering fusion reactions since the 1950s, the practicality and commercial viability have been hindered by the enormous power requirements of conventional electromagnets. CFS’s advanced electromagnets, as described earlier, are designed to control plasma and sustain fusion reactions, marking a significant technological breakthrough for the company.
Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, expressed his satisfaction with overcoming this critical technological hurdle, emphasizing the company’s plans to replace fossil fuel boilers with clean fusion power, leveraging the same energy source as the sun. CFS is currently evaluating old coal and natural gas plant sites as potential locations for deploying its first commercial fusion systems. While the demonstration device is still in the developmental phase, CFS remains confident in its ability to transition from fossil fuels to clean, carbon-free energy through fusion technology.
The Global Fusion Industry Report, recently published, sheds light on the escalating race among 45 companies to commercialize fusion energy, with collective funding exceeding $7 billion. Public-private partnerships play a pivotal role in advancing fusion technology, with a remarkable 50% increase in funding observed. The fusion industry is still in the developmental phase, with the journey towards building commercial nuclear fusion systems expected to take time. However, with increased investments and scientific breakthroughs, progress is accelerating. Commonwealth Fusion Systems stands out as a trailblazer in driving the global transition towards a clean energy future through its innovative advancements in fusion technology.
