![[Commonwealth Fusion Systems Logo.png|300]] Company website: [https://cfs.energy/](https://cfs.energy/) ### Introduction Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) was founded in 2018 as a spin-out from MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center by a team including Bob Mumgaard, Brandon Sorbom, Dan Brunner, Martin Greenwald, Dennis Whyte, and Zach Hartwig, drawing on decades of fusion research to commercialize high-field tokamak technology. Headquartered in Devens, Massachusetts, CFS's mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible by developing safe, unlimited, carbon-free fusion energy through innovative high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets that enable smaller, lower-cost tokamaks. The company's key focus areas include advancing HTS magnet technology for high-field fusion, building demonstration and commercial tokamaks like SPARC and ARC, scaling manufacturing and supply chains, and collaborating on plasma physics and materials science to achieve net energy gain and grid-scale deployment, addressing climate change, energy security, and economic growth through clean, abundant power. ### Key Products and Technology - **SPARC Tokamak**: A demonstration fusion machine designed to achieve net energy gain (Q > 1); features HTS magnets enabling magnetic fields up to 20 tesla, compact size (about 1/65th the volume of ITER), plasma temperatures over 100 million degrees, and rapid construction timeline; applications in validating commercial fusion viability, producing fusion energy for testing, and paving the way for power plants, with first plasma targeted for 2026. - **ARC Fusion Power Plant**: The world's first grid-scale fusion power plant with ~400 MW output; features modular design using HTS magnets for cost-effective scaling, high efficiency in electricity generation, and integration with existing grids; applications in delivering carbon-free baseload power, supporting decarbonization for utilities, data centers, and industries, with first unit planned for the early 2030s in Chesterfield County, Virginia. - **High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Magnets**: Revolutionary magnets using rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) tape; features high-field strength (up to 20 tesla), manufacturability at scale, and resilience in fusion environments; applications in enabling compact tokamaks, reducing fusion system size and cost, and licensing to other fusion companies for broader industry advancement. ### Team and Leadership - **Bob Mumgaard, Co-Founder and CEO**: Leads overall strategy and operations since 2018; Ph.D. in Applied Plasma Physics from MIT, expert in fusion commercialization; focuses on scaling HTS technology and fusion deployment; X handle: [@BobMumgaard](https://x.com/BobMumgaard); LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-mumgaard-5b5b5b1/. - **Brandon Sorbom, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer**: Oversees scientific research and plasma physics; Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT; drives innovations in tokamak design and magnet technology; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-sorbom-5b5b5b1/. - **Rick Needham, Chief Commercial Officer**: Manages partnerships and market strategy; emphasizes U.S. leadership in fusion innovation; background in energy and technology commercialization; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. - **Dennis Whyte, Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor**: Provides expertise in plasma and fusion science; Director of MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-whyte-5b5b5b1/. - **Dan Brunner, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer**: Leads engineering and magnet development; Ph.D. from MIT; focuses on HTS scaling; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. - **Martin Greenwald, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor**: Oversees fusion system integration; former Deputy Director at MIT PSFC; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. - **Zach Hartwig, Co-Founder and Chief Engineer**: Manages tokamak assembly; Ph.D. from MIT; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | July 28, 2025 | CEO Releases 6-Month Update Video | Bob Mumgaard provided an update on ARC site in Virginia, Google PPA, SPARC components like vacuum vessel and magnets, and supply chain progress, reaffirming roadmap to fusion energy. | | July 17, 2025 | Featured in TIME Magazine | Highlighted SPARC's Tokamak Hall and potential for net energy by 2027, emphasizing breakthroughs in HTS magnets. | | July 2, 2025 | Google PPA Announcement Follow-Up | Details on 200 MW fusion power purchase from ARC, marking Google's first fusion commitment and boosting CFS's commercialization path. | | June 30, 2025 | Signs Strategic Partnership with Google | Inked a 200 MW power purchase agreement for ARC's output starting early 2030s, including increased investment, to scale fusion energy. | | June 23, 2025 | Releases Virtual Tour of Commercial Fusion Campus | Showcased facilities for SPARC and magnet production, highlighting progress toward first plasma in 2026. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Google**: Strategic partnership announced June 30, 2025, including a 200 MW power purchase agreement from ARC and additional investment to accelerate fusion commercialization and grid integration. - **MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center**: Long-term collaboration since founding for HTS magnet development, SPARC science, and interdisciplinary research on fusion power plants. - **Type One Energy**: Exclusive HTS magnet licensing agreement to support stellarator development, fostering broader fusion ecosystem growth. - **Eni**: Collaboration agreement for advancing magnetic confinement fusion, including joint projects on technology industrialization. - **United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)**: Agreement to advance commercial fusion through shared R&D on plasma physics and materials. - **Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)**: Public-private partnerships under DOE INFUSE for fusion energy development, including materials and diagnostics. ### Closing Note Having raised over $2 billion in funding since 2018 and at an advanced development stage with SPARC assembly underway, Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on track for first plasma in 2026 and commercial ARC deployment in the early 2030s, bolstered by partnerships like Google's 200 MW PPA to drive the fusion energy transition. *Report generated July 28, 2025*