Latest news with #MichaelTerrell
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google加碼投資核融合電廠！攜手Commonwealth推動未來無碳核能轉型
Google (GOOGL-US) 正對全球尚未商轉成功的尖端能源技術「核融合」押下重注。該公司於週一（30 日）宣布，將購買由新創公司 Commonwealth Fusion Systems，在美國維吉尼亞州興建的核融合電廠購買 200 兆瓦電力，並將進一步擴大對該公司的股權投資。 根據《巴隆周刊》（Barron's）報導，這座核融合電廠基於麻省理工學院（MIT）研究成果，預計將於 2030 年代初開始供電，是全球第一個計畫性商業核融合發電案之一。 Google 清潔能源與碳排減量高級總監 Michael Terrell 表示：「在我們看來，這是一項改變世界的技術。」 先前，Google 就已參與 Commonwealth 先前的融資輪，並投資另一家核融合公司 TAE Technologies，後者也獲得石油巨頭雪佛龍（Chevron）支持。 核融合原理近似太陽發電 每公斤燃料能量遠超核分裂 與現今核能電廠採用的「核分裂」不同，核融合透過結合兩個原子核產生能量，模仿太陽發電原理。根據國際原子能總署（IAEA），每公斤核融合燃料所產生的能量是核分裂的 4 倍，甚至比燃燒石油或煤炭高出近 400 萬倍。 在 AI 資料中心與電動車電力需求激增之際，核融合電力被視為實現能源穩定與碳中和的關鍵。Google 母公司 Alphabet 承諾於 2030 年實現全球 24 小時使用無碳能源的目標。 除了 Google，微軟 (MSFT-US) 也在 2023 年與核融合公司 Helion 簽署協議，承諾 2028 年前購買 50 兆瓦核融合電力。Helion 的主要投資者之一為 OpenAI 執行長 Sam Altman，顯示矽谷科技圈對核融合的重視程度日益上升。 核融合距離商轉不再遙遠 2027 年有望實現「點火」突破 儘管核融合技術長期被認為「永遠還要再過 20 年」，但進展顯著加快。加州一處政府實驗室於 2022 年成功實現「點火」實驗，即輸出能量大於啟動能量。Commonwealth 執行長 Bob Mumgaard 表示，公司目標在 2027 年複製此突破。 彭博新能源財經分析師 Gadomski 指出，隨著超級運算、3D 列印、先進材料與磁體技術的進步，核融合工程已具備實現條件。他表示：「我對核融合的前景感到樂觀。」 儘管技術樂觀聲音不斷，市場上仍有保守聲音。資本創新公司（Capital Innovations）投資長 Michael Underhill 就認為，核融合距離商業化仍需 15 至 30 年。 Google 的 Terrell 最後表示：「核融合雖是長期布局，但現在這個長期看起來不再那麼遙遠。我們希望確保自己也投資在這個未來能源上。」 更多鉅亨報導•快抄筆記！美國女股神木頭姐最新布局：AI、防務、核能•川普簽行政令促核能發展 核能股全面強彈
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Google strikes deal to buy fusion power from MIT spinoff Commonwealth
Alphabet's Google said on Monday it has struck a deal to buy power from a project in Virginia fuelled by fusion, the reaction that powers the sun and the stars but is not yet commercial on Earth. Google signed what it called the technology's first direct corporate power purchase agreement with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a company that spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018. The deal is for 200 megawatts of power from CFS' ARC project, which is planned to have a total capacity of 400 MW. The company is developing the project in Virginia, home to the world's biggest hub of energy-hungry data centres. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Physicists at national laboratories and companies have been trying for decades to use lasers or, in the case of CFS, large magnets to foster fusion reactions, in which light atoms are forced together to release large amounts of energy. In 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California briefly achieved net energy gain in a fusion experiment using lasers. But achieving so-called "engineering break-even," in which more energy comes out of a reaction than the overall energy that goes into a fusion plant to get a reaction going, has been elusive. And for a plant to generate power from fusion, the reactions must be constant, not rare. "Yes, there are some serious physics and engineering challenges that we still have to work through to make it commercially viable and scalable," Michael Terrell, Google's head of advanced energy, told reporters in a call. "But that's something that we want to be investing in now to realize that future." As artificial intelligence and data centres boost power demand around the world, interest in fusion is spiking. Fusion, unlike nuclear fission, in which atoms are split, does not generate large amounts of radioactive waste. In addition, fusion, if successful, could help fight climate change. CFS aims to generate power from the ARC project in the early 2030s but must first clear the scientific hurdles. "Without partnership and without being bold and setting a goal and going for it, you won't ever reach over those challenges," Bob Mumgaard, CFS' CEO and co-founder, told reporters. He said the ARC plant will teach CFS about the "teething phase" of fusion, in which he expects to learn about how often fusion machines break down and how they can run reliably. Google also said on Monday it was increasing its investment in CFS, but did not disclose the amount. Google was one of many investors that invested a total of $1.8 billion into CFS in 2021. Mumgaard said the current fundraising efforts by CFS are comparable to the 2021 round.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google goes ‘nuclear' as tech giant signs deal to power its data centres: What makes this agreement ‘special'
Representative image Google has announced a deal to purchase 200 megawatts (MW) of power from a fusion energy project in Virginia, a hub for energy-intensive data centers. The agreement is with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-off. The power from CFS's ARC project is enough to power a small city. The financial specifics of the deal weren't disclosed. What makes Google's nuclear power deal 'one-of-a-kind' According to news agency Reuters, this deal marks the technology's first-ever direct corporate power purchase agreement. It is based on fusion, the same reaction that fuels the sun and stars. While fusion has been a scientific pursuit for decades—with physicists striving to create sustainable reactions using methods like powerful magnets, as employed by CFS, or lasers—achieving "engineering break-even," where a fusion plant produces more energy than it consumes, remains a significant challenge. "Yes, there are some serious physics and engineering challenges that we still have to work through to make it commercially viable and scalable. But that's something that we want to be investing in now to realize that future," admitted Michael Terrell, Google's head of advanced energy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo Tech giants looking at nuclear energy to power AI data centres However, the potential for clean, virtually limitless energy has ignited a surge of interest, especially as the global demand for power, driven by advancements in AI and data centers, continues to soar. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion promises to generate minimal radioactive waste and could play a crucial role in combating climate change. Meanwhile, CFS aims to begin generating power from its 400 MW ARC project in the early 2030s. CEO and co-founder Bob Mumgaard emphasized the importance of bold partnerships, stating, "Without partnership and without being bold and setting a goal and going for it, you won't ever reach over those challenges." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
NBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Google makes first foray into fusion in venture with MIT spinoff Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Google on Monday announced a partnership with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, or CFS, a private company spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which marks the tech giant ′ s first commercial commitment to fusion. The company unveiled plans to buy 200 megawatts of clean fusion power from what CFS describes as the world's first grid-scale fusion power plant, known as ARC, based in Chesterfield County, Virginia. ARC is expected to come online and generate 400 megawatts of clean, zero-carbon power in the early 2030s, which is enough energy to power large industrial sites or roughly 150,000 homes, according to CFS. The agreement also gives Google the option to purchase power from additional ARC plants. Google, which has invested in CFS since 2021, said it also increased its stake in the Devens, Massachusetts-based company. Google and CFS did not disclose the financial terms. 'We're excited to make this longer-term bet on a technology with transformative potential to meet the world's energy demand, and support CFS in their effort to reach their scientific and engineering milestones needed to get there,' Michael Terrell, head of advanced energy at Google, said in a statement. Fusion is a process that takes light atomic nuclei and heats them to over 100 million degrees Celsius. At these temperatures, the fuel becomes a plasma, which eventually causes the nuclei to fuse and release significant amounts of energy. The energy is then captured to create carbon-free electricity. CFS is one of many firms racing to achieve commercial-scale fusion energy and Google has invested in others. Earlier this month, Google announced continued funding for TAE Technologies, a California-based fusion energy company.
Time Business News
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Google signs fusion energy deal with MIT spinoff Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Google has agreed to purchase electricity from a fusion power project in Virginia, becoming the first major company to sign a direct corporate power purchase agreement involving the emerging energy technology. The technology firm struck the deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a company founded in 2018 as a spinoff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The agreement secures 200 megawatts of electricity from CFS's ARC fusion energy project, which is under development in Virginia, a state that hosts the world's largest concentration of power-intensive data centres. While Google and CFS did not disclose the financial terms, the planned output from ARC would be enough to supply a small city. Fusion power, the same process that fuels the sun, involves forcing light atoms together to release vast amounts of energy. Scientists have pursued fusion for decades, using either lasers or magnets to trigger these reactions. CFS employs a magnetic confinement method. Although the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California briefly achieved net energy gain in a laser-driven fusion experiment in 2022, the goal of engineering break-even — where more energy is produced than is consumed in running a plant — remains out of reach. To become a viable power source, fusion reactions must occur continuously, rather than as rare events. Michael Terrell, Google's head of advanced energy, said in a press briefing: 'Yes, there are some serious physics and engineering challenges that we still have to work through to make it commercially viable and scalable. But that's something that we want to be investing in now to realise that future.' CFS plans to bring the ARC project online in the early 2030s but must first overcome significant scientific and technical challenges. CEO and co-founder Bob Mumgaard told reporters that building ARC will help the company understand the early operational hurdles of fusion energy. 'Without partnership and without being bold and setting a goal and going for it, you won't ever reach over those challenges,' he said. Mumgaard added that ARC will teach the company how frequently fusion machines might break down and how to make them run reliably in real-world conditions. Fusion power has drawn renewed interest as artificial intelligence and data centres drive up electricity demand. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms and produces long-lasting radioactive waste, fusion generates minimal radioactive byproducts and could help reduce carbon emissions if commercialised. Alongside the power purchase agreement, Google confirmed it would expand its investment in CFS. The company previously took part in a $1.8 billion funding round for CFS in 2021. Mumgaard said the latest investment was 'comparable' in scale. As companies seek cleaner and more abundant energy sources, Google's deal marks a significant step in bringing fusion closer to commercial use. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
