Google to buy 200MW of fusion energy from MIT spinoff CFS

Google has announced its first commercial commitment to fusion, agreeing to purchase 200MW of power from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a company spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The electricity will come from CFS’s inaugural ARC power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which CFS describes as the world’s first grid-scale fusion facility. The facility is expected to contribute to the grid in the early 2030s.

Google also holds an option to source energy from future ARC plants. ARC aims to generate 400MW of net electricity comparable with utility-scale natural gas plants.

Google’s investment in CFS since 2021 is set to deepen as it increases its stake in the company. However, financial details remain undisclosed.

CFS CEO and co-founder Bob Mumgaard stated: “Fusion power is within our grasp thanks in part to forward-thinking partners like Google, a recognised technology pioneer across industries.

“Our strategic deal with Google is the first of many as we move to demonstrate fusion energy from SPARC and then bring our first power plant online. We aim to demonstrate fusion’s ability to provide reliable, abundant, clean energy at the scale needed to unlock economic growth and improve modern living – and enable what will be the largest market transition in history.”

Fusion technology offers transformative potential due to its lack of fuel or natural resource constraints compared to other energy sources.

By emulating the sun’s energy production process in which smaller atoms such as hydrogen fuse together, it promises a consistent supply of clean energy capable of powering emerging industries, electrifying transport systems, homes and businesses, and supporting advanced computing needs such as AI applications.

CFS’ marquee fusion project, SPARC, will generate net energy, paving the way for limitless carbon-free energy. The company has raised more than $2bn in capital since its establishment in 2018. Devens, Massachusetts-based CFS is working with policymakers and suppliers to make fusion energy available worldwide.