Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has secured an $85 million U.S. government award to develop semiconductors and electronics designed for fusion power plants. The funding, provided through the CHIPS Act by the Department of Commerce, will also give the government a stake in the company.
The award supports five initiatives aimed at improving reactor performance and building U.S. manufacturing capacity. One focus is silicon carbide power electronics, which can manage high voltages and help deliver the electrical bursts used to operate the superconducting magnets in fusion machines.
CFS also plans to develop next-generation radio-frequency generators to heat fusion fuel, alongside faster reactor-control electronics built to withstand radiation. More durable components could last longer in a power plant and help reduce operating costs.
The remaining work includes adapting AI hardware, such as GPUs and TPUs, for use in power plants. Together, the projects are intended to strengthen the domestic chip supply chain while advancing the technology needed to deliver fusion electricity.
Progress in specialized chips could help make future fusion plants more reliable and economical, bringing the technology closer to practical use on the electrical grid.
