Fusion Electronics: Commerce Department Awards $85 Million Grant

The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Commonwealth Fusion Systems $85 million to develop specialized semiconductors for fusion power plants.

The funding stems from a CHIPS Act agreement that also grants the government a stake in the company. The firm stated that the investment will expand American manufacturing capacity and support research and development for the industry.

The award comes as fusion startups work to complete their first demonstration reactors. Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to activate its Sparc reactor next year. While a single operating reactor demonstrates feasibility, commercial expansion requires durable power electronics and a reliable supply chain for dozens of future plants.

Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer at Commonwealth Fusion Systems, wrote in a blog post that the goal is a more capable and economical power plant with a stronger U.S. supply chain.

The $85 million supports five specific initiatives. The first involves advancing silicon carbide power electronics. These components manage high voltages in products like electric vehicles, data centers, and cell phone base stations. In fusion reactors, they handle intense electrical bursts that drive superconducting magnets to confine plasma.

The company will also develop next-generation radio-frequency power generators used to heat fusion fuel. A third effort focuses on advanced electronics that allow faster reactor control while withstanding radiation. These hardened components could extend the lifespan of parts inside a plant, reducing long-term operating costs.

The final initiative adapts artificial intelligence hardware, including GPUs and TPUs, for use in power plants. Sorbom said the funding would improve the U.S. chip and power electronics industries while accelerating fusion energy's progress toward the electrical grid.