Commonwealth Fusion makes the physics case for its 400 MW reactor

The scientific community has a plan for achieving fusion power. It involves getting a better understanding of how to control fusion in a tokamak-style reactor using the currently under construction ITER reactor , and then using that knowledge to build DEMO-style plants . But ITER isn't even expected to see hot plasmas until the middle of the 2030s, by which point solar panels will be so cheap that they'll probably be free in cereal boxes.

Commonwealth Fusion is a startup that's asking 'what if we did that, but now?' Its ITER equivalent, a tokamak called SPARC, is over 70 percent complete and is planned to be operating as soon as next year. The company already has a site and customers for the power-generating follow-on, called ARC. Both of those projects are predicated on using high-temperature superconductors to generate an extremely powerful magnetic field that will allow the company to build a smaller reactor, and thus get things done faster.

Years of running plasmas through tokamaks has given confidence that the basics of these plans are sound. But there are potential devils in the details . So Commonwealth's scientists, in collaboration with the academic community, have recently released five peer-reviewed papers that detail its plans for ARC: what best models tell us now, and what we'll still need to learn from SPARC to finalize the design of a production fusion plant.

The company is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy. As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources, fusion power could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Commonwealth Fusion's approach could accelerate the development of commercial fusion power, potentially disrupting the energy industry.

The company's progress will be closely watched by developers, businesses, and consumers, who are eager to see innovative solutions to the world's energy needs. The success of SPARC and ARC will depend on overcoming the technical challenges of building a commercially viable fusion reactor, but if achieved, it could have far-reaching implications for the future of energy production.