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Google buys 200MW fusion energy from plant that doesn't exist 
The financial details have not been disclosed

Google buys 200MW fusion energy from plant that doesn't exist 

Jul 01, 2025
06:03 pm

What's the story

Google has signed a deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to purchase power from a yet-to-be-built fusion plant. The tech giant has bought 200MW of power from CFS's ARC project in Virginia, which is enough to power a small city. The financial details of this groundbreaking agreement have not been disclosed.

Clean power

Why fusion energy is important

Fusion energy, the reaction that powers the Sun and stars, has been a goal for physicists for decades. Unlike nuclear fission (which splits atoms), fusion does not produce large amounts of radioactive waste. If successful, it could be a major weapon in the fight against climate change. CFS hopes to start generating power from its ARC project in the early 2030s.

Financial backing

Google makes 2nd investment in CFS

Along with the power purchase agreement, Google has also announced a second round of investment in CFS. The amount of money being invested has not been disclosed. This move comes after a previous investment round in 2021 that raised $1.8 billion for CFS. The latest funding is "comparable" to that earlier investment, according to Bob Mumgaard, CEO and co-founder of CFS.

Technical hurdles

Challenges of fusion energy

Despite its promise, fusion energy is not without challenges. CFS's ARC plant will help the company overcome these "teething" issues with fusion technology, including machine breakdown frequency and reliability. Google's head of advanced energy, Michael Terrell, acknowledged that there are major physics and engineering hurdles to be crossed before fusion can become commercially viable and scalable.