Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a private fusion energy company, has announced plans to build the world's first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant, named ARC, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The facility is expected to generate approximately 400 megawatts of clean, carbon-free electricity, sufficient to power large industrial sites or about 150,000 homes. CFS will independently finance, build, own, and operate the plant, with Dominion Energy Virginia providing non-financial collaboration, including development and technical expertise, as well as leasing rights for the proposed site at the James River Industrial Park. The project is anticipated to commence operations in the early 2030s.
In addition to the ARC project, CFS is developing SPARC, a fusion demonstration machine located at its headquarters in Devens, Massachusetts. SPARC is designed to produce its first plasma in 2026 and achieve net fusion energy shortly thereafter, demonstrating a commercially relevant design that produces more power than it consumes. SPARC is expected to pave the way for ARC, which aims to deliver power to the grid in the early 2030s.
In June 2025, Google and CFS announced a strategic partnership, with Google signing a power purchase agreement for 200 megawatts of electricity from CFS's inaugural ARC power plant. This agreement underscores the growing confidence in fusion energy's viability and marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of fusion power.
These developments signify a pivotal shift in the energy sector, offering a potential solution to global energy demands and climate change through the advancement of fusion energy technology.