Commonwealth Fusion Systems Installs Magnet for Fusion Reactor and Partners with Nvidia
Commonwealth Fusion Systems has installed its first magnet for a new fusion reactor, teaming up with Nvidia to create a digital twin for testing.
The magnet is one of 18 needed to make a big round shape that will create a strong magnetic field. This field helps keep superheated plasma in place. If everything works out, this plasma will produce more energy than what is needed to heat it.
After many years of promise and delay, fusion power is getting closer to reality. CFS is in a race with others to send the first electrons to the power grid by the early 2030s. If they succeed, fusion energy could provide nearly endless clean energy like a regular power plant.
CFS’s CEO, Bob Mumgaard, said they have finished key parts of the magnets and plan to install all 18 by the end of summer. Each magnet weighs 24 tons and creates an extremely strong 20 tesla magnetic field. Mumgaard states, “It’s the type of magnet that you could use to, like, lift an aircraft carrier.” To work correctly, these magnets will be cooled to very low temperatures.
CFS is also teaming up with Nvidia and Siemens to develop a digital twin of the reactor. This means they will create a virtual model of the Sparc reactor. Siemens is helping with the design, and data will be sent to Nvidia’s Omniverse. Mumgaard emphasizes that this digital twin will not be just for design, but will be used with the real reactor.
CFS has raised nearly $3 billion so far to build the Sparc reactor, needing even more for its commercial power plant called Arc. Mumgaard hopes that advanced technology can help CFS get fusion power to the grid faster, saying, “We have an urgency for fusion to get to the grid.”