Latest news with #CFS
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. "Google to buy 200MW of fusion energy from MIT spinoff CFS" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Google strikes deal to buy fusion power from MIT spinoff Commonwealth
Alphabet's Google said on Monday it has struck a deal to buy power from a project in Virginia fuelled by fusion, the reaction that powers the sun and the stars but is not yet commercial on Earth. Google signed what it called the technology's first direct corporate power purchase agreement with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a company that spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018. The deal is for 200 megawatts of power from CFS' ARC project, which is planned to have a total capacity of 400 MW. The company is developing the project in Virginia, home to the world's biggest hub of energy-hungry data centres. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Physicists at national laboratories and companies have been trying for decades to use lasers or, in the case of CFS, large magnets to foster fusion reactions, in which light atoms are forced together to release large amounts of energy. In 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California briefly achieved net energy gain in a fusion experiment using lasers. But achieving so-called "engineering break-even," in which more energy comes out of a reaction than the overall energy that goes into a fusion plant to get a reaction going, has been elusive. And for a plant to generate power from fusion, the reactions must be constant, not rare. "Yes, there are some serious physics and engineering challenges that we still have to work through to make it commercially viable and scalable," Michael Terrell, Google's head of advanced energy, told reporters in a call. "But that's something that we want to be investing in now to realize that future." As artificial intelligence and data centres boost power demand around the world, interest in fusion is spiking. Fusion, unlike nuclear fission, in which atoms are split, does not generate large amounts of radioactive waste. In addition, fusion, if successful, could help fight climate change. CFS aims to generate power from the ARC project in the early 2030s but must first clear the scientific hurdles. "Without partnership and without being bold and setting a goal and going for it, you won't ever reach over those challenges," Bob Mumgaard, CFS' CEO and co-founder, told reporters. He said the ARC plant will teach CFS about the "teething phase" of fusion, in which he expects to learn about how often fusion machines break down and how they can run reliably. Google also said on Monday it was increasing its investment in CFS, but did not disclose the amount. Google was one of many investors that invested a total of $1.8 billion into CFS in 2021. Mumgaard said the current fundraising efforts by CFS are comparable to the 2021 round.
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
Google to buy power from Chesterfield's planned nuclear fusion plant
Google just inked a power purchase deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a company planning to build in Chesterfield County what it hopes is the world's first commercial nuclear fusion power plant. Why it matters: The planned reactor is still years away, but the agreement shows how Google is trying to harness technology to help meet AI's voracious power needs — including in our backyard. Driving the news: Under the agreement, announced Monday, Google would buy 200 megawatts of power from CFS' planned reactor. It also boosts its investment in the Massachusetts-based fusion company. Catch up quick: CFS announced late last year that, in partnership with Dominion Energy, it would build the world's first commercial nuclear fusion power plant in the James River Industrial Center in Chesterfield. The plant, named ARC, won't be operational until the early 2030s, but it's ultimately expected to generate enough electricity to power about 150,000 homes, per a news release. In May, CFS started the zoning and permit process for the Chesterfield site, BizSense reported. Groundbreaking isn't expected to happen until the "late 2020s." Zoom in: Generating electricity from fusion is also still years away, Axios' Alan Neuhauser reports, but because of its promise of near-limitless zero-emissions electricity and AI'sextensive power needs, fusion energy is considered the ultimate climate moonshot. Between the lines: Google has long invested in early-stage clean energy technologies to act as a catalyst for the industry, and this week's deal is its first energy procurement deal with a fusion company.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Google Signs Deal to Buy Fusion Energy From Bill Gates-Backed Nuclear Startup
Google signed one of the world's first commercial deals for fusion energy, in an agreement with nuclear startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems. It is a bet on future technology. Nuclear fusion—the process that fuels the stars—has never been used for commercial energy production. CFS, which is backed by Bill Gates's technology fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is aiming to start producing commercial fusion energy in the 2030s.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Google goes ‘nuclear' as tech giant signs deal to power its data centres: What makes this agreement ‘special'
Representative image Google has announced a deal to purchase 200 megawatts (MW) of power from a fusion energy project in Virginia, a hub for energy-intensive data centers. The agreement is with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-off. The power from CFS's ARC project is enough to power a small city. The financial specifics of the deal weren't disclosed. What makes Google's nuclear power deal 'one-of-a-kind' According to news agency Reuters, this deal marks the technology's first-ever direct corporate power purchase agreement. It is based on fusion, the same reaction that fuels the sun and stars. While fusion has been a scientific pursuit for decades—with physicists striving to create sustainable reactions using methods like powerful magnets, as employed by CFS, or lasers—achieving "engineering break-even," where a fusion plant produces more energy than it consumes, remains a significant challenge. "Yes, there are some serious physics and engineering challenges that we still have to work through to make it commercially viable and scalable. But that's something that we want to be investing in now to realize that future," admitted Michael Terrell, Google's head of advanced energy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo Tech giants looking at nuclear energy to power AI data centres However, the potential for clean, virtually limitless energy has ignited a surge of interest, especially as the global demand for power, driven by advancements in AI and data centers, continues to soar. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion promises to generate minimal radioactive waste and could play a crucial role in combating climate change. Meanwhile, CFS aims to begin generating power from its 400 MW ARC project in the early 2030s. CEO and co-founder Bob Mumgaard emphasized the importance of bold partnerships, stating, "Without partnership and without being bold and setting a goal and going for it, you won't ever reach over those challenges." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
