Bill Gates invested in a nuclear fusion energy startup

American company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), which develops technologies in the field of thermonuclear energy, has successfully completed another round of funding, raising $863 million. Among the key investors are Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, technology giants Google and Nvidia, as well as dozens of other participants. This was reported by TechCrunch.

With the latest infusion, the total investment in CFS since its founding has reached almost $3 billion, securing the startup's leading position in this promising industry. Earlier, in 2021, the company already set a record by receiving $1.8 billion.

Currently, CFS is actively building a Sparc reactor prototype near Boston. Its launch is planned for the end of next year, and by 2027, engineers expect to achieve energy breakeven – a state where the thermonuclear reaction produces more energy than is required to initiate it. Although Sparc is not intended for commercial electricity production, its successful operation will be an important step toward the next phase.

If there are no serious problems with Sparc's operation, CFS plans to begin construction of its industrial Arc power plant in Virginia as early as 2027 or 2028. The company has already reached an agreement with Google to supply 200 MW of electricity that will be generated by Arc.

According to CFS co-founder and CEO Bob Mumgaard, the current funding is sufficient to complete the Sparc project. However, building Arc will require significantly more funds – several billion dollars more.

Both facilities, Sparc and Arc, are tokamaks – thermonuclear reactors that use a magnetic field to contain plasma.