Commerce Department Puts $85 Million Into CFS for Fusion Reactor Chips
The CHIPS Act award targets radiation-hardened semiconductors and AI hardware to support the construction of commercial fusion plants.
By Larissa Shah ·
Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Commerce will award the company $85 million. The funding is part of the CHIPS Act and includes a government equity stake in the fusion startup. The money is designated for the development of advanced semiconductors specifically required for the operation of fusion power plants.
CFS plans to use the capital to expand domestic manufacturing capacity and strengthen research and development efforts. The company is currently racing to complete its Sparc reactor, which is scheduled to begin operations next year. While a single demonstration reactor serves as a proof of concept, scaling the technology to dozens of commercial facilities requires more durable power electronics and a reliable supply chain.
Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer at CFS, stated in a blog post that the investment supports a more capable and economical power plant. He noted that the award helps build a stronger U.S. supply chain for the industry.
The award supports five distinct initiatives. The first focuses on silicon carbide power electronics. These components manage high voltages and are already used in electric vehicles, data centers, and cell phone base stations. In fusion machines, they handle the intense electrical bursts needed to drive superconducting magnets that confine plasma.
CFS will also develop next-generation radio-frequency power generators used to heat fusion fuel. A separate effort targets advanced electronics that allow for faster reactor control and are hardened against radiation. The company said these radiation-resistant components could extend the lifespan of internal parts, thereby reducing long-term operating costs for fusion power plants.
The final initiative involves adapting artificial intelligence hardware, including GPUs and TPUs, for use in power plant infrastructure. Sorbom said the funding improves the U.S. chip and power electronics industries while accelerating the progress of fusion energy toward the electrical grid.
