Virginia is planning to build the world’s first grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant. This week, Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced the project, which aims to produce 400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 150,000 homes, by the early 2030s.
“In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region, and more specifically Chesterfield County, as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy,” Commonwealth Fusion Systems Co-founder and CEO Bob Mumgaard said. “Virginia emerged as a strong partner as they look to implement innovative solutions for both reliable electricity and clean forms of power.”
To support the initiative, the state has provided $2 million in funding and multiple tax incentives, while the Department of Energy has also contributed additional funding.
“This is an historic moment for Virginia and the world at large,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “Commonwealth Fusion Systems is not just building a facility, they are pioneering groundbreaking innovation to generate clean, reliable, safe power, and it’s happening right here in Virginia. We are proud to be home to this pursuit to change the future of energy and power.”
Fusion technology mimics the energy-producing process of the sun, combining hydrogen isotopes under extreme heat and pressure. Powerful magnets confine these elements, generating heat that produces steam to spin turbines and create electricity. Generating nuclear fusion energy produces no greenhouse gases, and unlike fission, avoids long-living radioactive waste, while eliminating the risk of a meltdown.
However, achieving the intense heat necessary for fusion remains a significant challenge. Partly because of this, fusion is currently four times more expensive than nuclear fission, and experts warn the project could encounter delays due to fusion technology still being in its infancy.
The energy demands in Virginia make the project particularly relevant. The state hosts the largest global market for data centers, with facilities that consume energy on par with small cities. Over 35% of all data centers worldwide — and nearly half in the U.S. — are located in Virginia.
With energy requirements from these facilities in the state expected to triple from 10,000 megawatts today to 30,000 megawatts by 2040, Virginia faces an urgent need to expand its power capacity.
