Commonwealth Fusion Systems said Tuesday that it is the first developer of nuclear fusion to request a connection to a regional grid, a move aiming to boost prospects for a landmark power plant.
The application to PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power market, is a notable milestone for a technology that envisions creating low-carbon electricity using the same reaction fueling the sun and stars. It’s an idea that has never been proven at commercial scale, but the company is eyeing what could be a first-of-a-kind demonstration by the early 2030s.
“We’re not just proving fusion physics works — we’re showing exactly how fusion power plant watts get from our machine to the customer,” said Commonwealth CEO Bob Mumgaard, in a statement. “When you’re serious about building a power plant in the early 2030s, you act now. This is execution.”
The application, which could take four to six years, is the first step toward connecting the company’s planned nuclear fusion plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, to the grid on the planned timeline. It’s known as an ARC power plant. The request kicks off a process where PJM can later run grid simulation models to “stress-test” the 400-megawatt project and determine it can provide reliable electricity.
