Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) announced on Thursday its strategic move to sell high-temperature superconducting magnets to Realta Fusion, marking a significant milestone as the largest deal of its kind for the company, according to COO Rick Needham.
This latest agreement follows a previous sale of magnets to the WHAM experiment at the University of Wisconsin, where Realta collaborates closely. The underlying physics of WHAM supports Realta's innovative approach to fusion power, utilizing a magnetic mirror reactor design.
In a magnetic mirror, plasma is shaped like two soda bottles joined at the base, with powerful magnets at each end pushing the plasma back toward the center. The central section, which requires less powerful and thus more cost-effective magnets, can be expanded to enhance reactor efficiency, potentially lowering the cost per kilowatt-hour as Realta's reactors grow in size.
Meanwhile, CFS is also developing a tokamak, another magnetic confinement fusion approach. This design employs D-shaped magnets to maintain plasma in a doughnut-like configuration. CFS has been refining its magnet technology to support its future commercial-scale reactor, Arc, which is set to be constructed in Virginia.
The foundation of both CFS and Realta lies in advanced magnet technology. Founded in 2018, CFS emerged from MIT's discovery of commercially viable high-temperature superconductors that could facilitate a practical tokamak. Realta was established shortly thereafter, leveraging new technologies to revisit the magnetic mirror concept, as explained by co-founder and CEO Kieran Furlong.
In addition to its partnership with Realta, CFS has licensed its magnet technology to Type One Fusion, which is exploring a stellarator reactor design. While this agreement does not involve CFS manufacturing magnets for Type One, it could pave the way for future collaborations, as noted by Christine Dunn, CFS's head of external communications.
These partnerships are crucial for CFS, helping to recoup investments made in magnet manufacturing. The company has dedicated seven years and substantial financial resources to establish a factory capable of producing high-temperature superconducting tape tailored for fusion applications. This material has been integral to the development of Sparc, CFS's demonstration reactor, which is nearing completion and will be operational later this year.
As CFS continues to support Realta with its magnet production, the timing aligns perfectly with the progress of Sparc, which is now 70% complete. Notably, CFS considers Realta and Type One as non-competitive, as they are targeting distinct reactor designs and industrial applications requiring significant heat.
With nearly $3 billion raised to date, CFS occupies a leading position in the fusion startup landscape, enabling it to construct essential facilities ahead of its competitors. These strategic partnerships not only serve the broader fusion industry by providing technologies that would be costly to replicate but also enhance CFS's access to further venture investments.