10.24.2024
Commonwealth Fusion Systems Granted Radioactive Materials License for SPARC Fusion Machine

New license underscores the company’s commitment to expertise and safety while paving the way to delivering commercial fusion energy.

DEVENS, Mass. (October 24, 2024) — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) a broad-scope radioactive materials license for SPARC, a key milestone on the path to operating the world’s first commercially relevant net energy fusion machine.

The license permits CFS to possess, use, and store radioactive materials and shows CFS has the capabilities to do so. The license is an essential step toward developing power plants that will produce zero-carbon, abundant fusion energy.

“Fusion energy is critical to tackling climate change and meeting the growing demand for electricity,” said Corinne Mitchell, Director of Radiation Protection at CFS. “But along with solving fusion’s technical challenges, we also have to show we can satisfy regulators’ safety requirements that protect employees, the public, and the environment. This license from Massachusetts proves we can do that.”

…

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted unanimously in 2023 to regulate commercial fusion power plants such as ARC under a byproduct materials framework — the same approach that governs SPARC and particle accelerators like those used in medical treatment and imaging — and not under nuclear fission power plant rules. NRC's decision reflects the different risk profiles of fission and fusion energy. The byproduct materials framework comprehensively protects public health and the environment while letting fusion companies like CFS scale fusion power rapidly. The ADVANCE Act codified the NRC’s decision in July 2024.

…