Commerce allocates $85 million to CFS for fusion-grade semiconductors

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued an $85 million award to Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) on Thursday. The grant stems from the CHIPS Act and includes a government equity stake in the company. CFS stated that the capital will fund research and expand domestic manufacturing capacity for power electronics.

The funding supports five distinct technical initiatives. The first targets the advancement of silicon carbide power electronics. These components manage high voltages and currently operate in electric vehicles, data centers, and cell phone base stations. In fusion reactors, they drive the superconducting magnets that confine plasma using intense electrical bursts.

CFS will also develop next-generation radio-frequency power generators for heating fusion fuel. A third initiative focuses on advanced control electronics hardened against radiation. The company noted that these radiation-resistant components could extend the lifespan of internal hardware, thereby lowering long-term operating costs for commercial plants.

The remaining efforts involve adapting artificial intelligence hardware, including GPUs and TPUs, for use in power generation facilities. Brandon Sorbom, CFS co-founder and chief science officer, wrote in a blog post that the project aims to create a more capable and economical power plant. He also emphasized the goal of strengthening the U.S. supply chain for these components.

The award arrives as CFS prepares to activate its Sparc reactor next year. While the machine serves as a demonstration, commercial fusion requires durable power electronics and a reliable supply chain to support dozens of future plants. Sorbom said the funding will improve the U.S. chip industry while accelerating fusion energy's integration into the electrical grid.