Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spinout, announced plans to build the world’s first grid-scale fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The project brings the U.S. closer to tapping into a new, limitless source of clean energy.
Expected to be operational by the early 2030s, the ARC (affordable, robust, compact) plant will provide 400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 150,000 homes — a monumental step forward for clean energy.
“This is an historic moment for Virginia and the world at large,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin welcoming the announcement. “Commonwealth Fusion Systems is not just building a facility, they are pioneering groundbreaking innovation to generate clean, reliable, safe power, and it’s happening right here in Virginia.”
CFS, founded in 2018, will independently finance, build, and operate the fusion plant. The announcement marks a key milestone in the quest for clean, reliable energy, with the potential to transform the global energy landscape.
“In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region and more specifically Chesterfield County, Virginia, as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy,” said Bob Mumgaard, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Key Highlights
- The project is expected to bring billions in economic development and create hundreds of jobs in the region.
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to build the world’s first grid-scale fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, set to go live by the early 2030s.
- CFS will collaborate with Dominion Energy Virginia to provide technical expertise and leasing rights for the 100-acre site at the James River Industrial Park.
- The ARC fusion plant will produce 400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately 150,000 homes, and will be entirely carbon-free.
CFS collaboration with Dominion Energy
CFS will work closely with Dominion Energy Virginia, which will provide non-financial support, including technical expertise and leasing rights for the site. The partnership is set to play a crucial role in advancing the technology and ensuring the project aligns with Virginia’s growing clean energy goals.
“Commonwealth Fusion Systems is the clear industry leader in advancing the exciting energy potential of fusion,” said Edward H. Baine, President of Dominion Energy Virginia. “Our customers’ growing needs for reliable, carbon-free power benefits from a diverse range of power generation options, and in that spirit, we are delighted to assist CFS in their efforts.”
This announcement comes as Virginia faces increasing energy demand, driven largely by the growth of data centers powering the tech industry. As these facilities consume massive amounts of electricity, the ARC fusion plant offers a sustainable, emissions-free solution to help meet these demands.
Virginia leads the way in clean energy transition
Virginia has already provided significant support for the project, including a $1 million investment from the Virginia Energy Clean Energy Innovation Bank and tax exemptions for the plant’s equipment. CFS has also secured funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. Additionally, the state is actively working on legislation to define fusion energy within its renewable energy laws.
Rip Sullivan, a Virginia state lawmaker, announced plans to introduce legislation to classify fusion energy as “zero-carbon electricity” under the Virginia Clean Economy Act, a 2020 law aimed at decarbonizing the state’s power grid.
“Since the VCEA’s passage, we have succeeded in driving energy innovation in the commonwealth, and today marks another important step in what has been a remarkably successful effort,” said Sullivan. “This step would not have been possible had Virginia declined or abandoned the opportunity and responsibility it took to lead in clean energy.”
Nuclear Fusion Energy explained
Fusion energy, which mimics the process that powers the Sun and stars, merges two atomic nuclei into a larger one. Unlike fission, which splits heavy atoms and creates long-lived radioactive waste, fusion combines light atoms, producing energy without harmful emissions. The process generates heat, which can be used to produce steam and spin a turbine, generating electricity.
Fusion technology works when hydrogen isotopes — deuterium and tritium — are fused under extreme heat and pressure using powerful magnets to fuse the elements. The process creates helium. This fusion has the potential to supply safe, clean, and relatively limitless energy on Earth.
CFS ARC fusion power plant
The CFS commercial fusion power plant, known as ARC, will help position the U.S. as a global leader in harnessing safe, reliable fusion energy, essential for economic growth, and national security, and meet rising electricity demands, including those driven by AI.
Fusion will provide a virtually limitless source of energy, but it will do so safely and without creating harmful byproducts. “One of the big advantages of fusion is that it doesn’t produce any long lived waste material, and there’s no risk of some kind of meltdown event,” said Alex Creely, CFS Director of Tokamak Operations. “It’s a very safe energy source — something that you can live right next to and feel very comfortable with.”
Before the ARC plant can begin operating, CFS will first complete its SPARC (smallest possible ARC) demonstration project at its headquarters in Massachusetts. SPARC is expected to achieve net energy production by 2027, proving that fusion technology can generate more energy than it consumes — a crucial step toward making fusion a viable energy source for the world. SPARC will pave the way for ARC, which is expected to deliver power to the grid in the early 2030s.
“This will be a watershed moment for fusion,” said Dennis Whyte, CFS co-founder and an engineering professor at MIT. “It sets the pace in the race toward commercial fusion power plants. The ambition is to build thousands of these power plants and to change the world.”
While the project is still in its early stages, it is already clear that the ARC fusion plant represents a transformative leap forward for energy generation. It will be the first fusion facility to generate power for the grid, and with successful implementation, it could be the model for future fusion plants worldwide.
