Google is investing in nuclear fusion \u2014 a still-theoretical energy source that mimics the power of stars \u2014 to help secure a long-term clean energy supply for its growing AI and data center needs. The company announced Monday it has signed a power purchase agreement with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, acquiring 200 megawatts from the firm\u2019s first commercial fusion plant expected in Virginia in the early 2030s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s enough to power around 200,000 American homes, though the facility has yet to be built, and the technology hasn\u2019t reached commercial viability. Fusion produces no greenhouse gases or long-term radioactive waste and relies on hydrogen from seawater and tritium derived from lithium \u2014 making it an energy holy grail, if it can be made to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google is also injecting additional funds into Commonwealth to support its SPARC demonstration plant in Massachusetts, a tokamak reactor designed to generate more energy than it consumes. The tokamak uses superheated plasma and powerful magnets to force atomic nuclei to fuse, unleashing energy at a scale far beyond fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re using this purchasing power that we have to send a demand signal to the market for fusion energy and hopefully move the technology forward,\u201d said Michael Terrell, Google\u2019s head of energy and climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike wind and solar, fusion promises consistent baseload electricity, a key draw for AI-driven companies operating massive data centers. Google has already invested in geothermal and small modular reactors to serve similar goals. Fusion offers the added appeal of scale and environmental sustainability \u2014 if it can overcome the technical barrier of producing net-positive energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commonwealth CEO Bob Mumgaard said Google\u2019s agreement is the \u201clargest offtake agreement for fusion\u201d to date. The funding will allow the company to work on its commercial ARC plant in Virginia concurrently with finishing SPARC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow we can start to work more and more on ARC while we finish SPARC, instead of doing them very sequentially,\u201d Mumgaard said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"