Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $46 million in funding for eight companies, including Massachusetts-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems, advancing designs and research and development for fusion power plants. The funding is being awarded through DOE’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, which Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) authored to solidify U.S. leadership in fusion commercialization. The program has been touted by the Biden-Harris administration as a gamechanger that would help the United States meet the President’s goal of reaching a net-zero economy by 2050.

“When I first put pen to paper drafting the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program three years ago, I had today’s announcement in mind,” said Congresswoman Trahan, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Fusion Caucus. “Eight companies, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems right here in Massachusetts, are leading the cutting-edge work being done across the United States to win the race to finally commercialize fusion energy. I’m proud to see this funding being deployed to bolster those efforts, and I look forward to working with Secretary Granholm, members of the bipartisan Congressional Fusion Caucus, and our remarkable researchers to ensure this federal support continues until we unlock this limitless source of clean energy.”

“We have generated energy by drawing power from the sun above us. Fusion offers the potential to create the power of the sun right here on Earth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to partnering with innovative researchers and companies across the country to take fusion energy past the lab and toward the grid.”

Within five to ten years, the eight awardees will resolve scientific and technological challenges to create designs for a fusion pilot plant that will help bring fusion to both technical and commercial viability. This program was partially inspired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program that helped enable commercial space launch.

The awardees are as follows:

• Commonwealth Fusion Systems (Cambridge, MA)
• Focused Energy Inc. (Austin, TX)
• Princeton Stellarators Inc. (Branchburg, NJ)
• Realta Fusion Inc. (Madison, WI)
• Tokamak Energy Inc. (Bruceton Mills, WV)
• Type One Energy Group (Madison, WI)
• Xcimer Energy Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
• Zap Energy Inc. (Everett, WA)

In 2020, Trahan secured passage of an amendment to the Energy Act of 2020 to establish the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program that would expand fusion research and development across U.S. labs and universities and facilitate greater private investment in fusion technology. The amendment also maintained U.S. participation in ITER, ensuring that American scientists can continue collaborating and learning from other countries. Following passage of her amendment, Trahan co-authored an op-ed highlighting the importance of federal funding fusion for energy research and fusion’s potential impact on U.S. energy and national security.

Today’s announcement follows DOE’s announcement last year that it was launching the $50 million milestone program established by Trahan’s amendment, and in February, Trahan hosted U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm at Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Devens to highlight the groundbreaking work being done at the facility in the Third District.

Applicants for these awards – selected by competitive peer review under the DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program – went through a rigorous merit-review process that included evaluation of their scientific, technical, commercialization, and business and financial viabilities. The total funding of $46 million is for the first 18 months, with funds coming from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. Projects may last up to five years in duration, with outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations, and continued participation from the teams contingent on satisfactory progress in meeting the negotiated milestones. More information about the projects can be found on the Fusion Energy Sciences Topical Funding Opportunity Awards page.

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