Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is the world’s largest and leading private commercial fusion energy company, founded in 2018 as a spin-out from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). CFS is pioneering the development of compact, cost-effective fusion power plants using revolutionary high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. The company’s mission is to deliver clean, limitless fusion energy to the grid fast enough to address humanity’s urgent energy and climate challenges. CFS is building SPARC, the world’s first commercially relevant net energy fusion machine, which will pave the way for ARC, the first grid-scale fusion power plant. ARC is planned to deliver 400 megawatts of zero-carbon electricity in Chesterfield County, Virginia, starting in the early 2030s, enough to power approximately 150,000 homes or meet the needs of large industrial customers.
Leadership
Bob Mumgaard (Co-Founder & CEO): Bob Mumgaard holds a Ph.D. in Applied Plasma Physics from MIT and has extensive experience in fusion research and commercialization. Before founding CFS, he was a researcher at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, focusing on tokamak physics and advanced magnet technologies.
Brandon Sorbom (Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer): Dr. Sorbom is a plasma physicist with a Ph.D. from MIT, specializing in high-field fusion devices and superconducting magnet design.
Dan Brunner (Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer): Dr. Brunner also holds a Ph.D. from MIT and has expertise in plasma diagnostics, control systems, and fusion engineering.
CFS’s leadership team includes several other MIT-trained scientists and engineers, reflecting the company’s deep technical roots and commitment to rigorous fusion science.
Core Technologies
High-Temperature Superconducting Magnets: CFS’s breakthrough technology is the use of proprietary HTS magnets, developed in collaboration with MIT. These magnets enable much stronger magnetic fields in a smaller footprint, allowing for compact and lower-cost tokamak fusion reactors.
SPARC Tokamak: SPARC is a demonstration device under construction at CFS’s Devens, Massachusetts campus. It is designed to achieve net energy from fusion for the first time in a compact device, validating the technology and physics needed for commercial fusion.
ARC Power Plant: ARC will be the world’s first grid-scale fusion power plant, designed to produce 400 MW of clean electricity. It will leverage the SPARC platform and HTS magnet technology to deliver reliable, zero-carbon energy.
Advanced Manufacturing: CFS has established advanced manufacturing facilities to produce HTS magnets and fusion reactor components at scale, supporting rapid deployment of commercial plants.
Key Capabilities
Commercial-Scale Fusion Power: CFS aims to deliver fusion power plants that are cost-competitive with existing energy sources, providing reliable, carbon-free electricity for the grid.
Rapid R&D and Manufacturing: The company’s integrated campus in Devens, MA, supports research, development, and manufacturing, enabling fast iteration and scaling of fusion technology.
Collaborative Ecosystem: CFS partners with MIT, national labs, policymakers, and industrial suppliers to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy and build a new energy industry.
Investors
Major Investors:
Eni (initial $50 million in 2018, continued investment)
Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates)
Khosla Ventures (Vinod Khosla)
Temasek Holdings (Singapore)
Equinor (Norway)
Devonshire Investors
Google
Funding & Valuation: CFS has raised over $2 billion in capital, more than any other fusion energy company. Notable rounds include $115 million (Series A, 2019), $84 million (Series A2), and $1.8 billion (Series B, 2021). The company remains private.
Public Support: CFS has received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, including the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, but is primarily funded by private investment.
Notable Clients
Dominion Energy: CFS has partnered with Dominion Energy for the site of its first ARC fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Government and Research Collaborations: CFS works closely with the U.S. Department of Energy, MIT, and other national laboratories and universities to advance fusion science and technology.
