Super Stellar Fridays

The Path to Commercial Fusion Energy 

Next Super Stellar Friday - Friday, October 2nd, 2026 | 6:30-9:30 PM

Presentation Description:‍ ‍This presentation will describe fusion energy and how the same process that powers the stars can be harnessed on Earth as the ideal source of carbon-free energy. A giant leap forward on the path to commercial fusion energy occurred in 2021 when Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrated the world’s strongest superconducting magnet at the scale required for fusion power plant systems.  This new magnet technology opened up the possibility of developing fusion power plants at a size that can commercially scale. Following this success, CFS rapidly built a magnet factory in Devens, Massachusetts and is using its first-production magnets to build a prototype fusion machine, called SPARC®, to demonstrate net energy and the technology’s commercial viability. In parallel, site planning activities are underway at the Fall Line Fusion Power Station in Chesterfield County, Virginia, where fusion will be harnessed to provide 400 MWe of carbon-free energy starting in the early 2030s. 

About our Special Guest Presenters: Jessica Strunkin joined Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) in 2023 as Community Relations and Local Government Affairs Principal, leading engagement with communities and stakeholders to broaden awareness of fusion energy and highlight CFS’s regional economic impact. She was part of the site search team for CFS’s first ARC™ Power Plant and hosts community events near the Fall Line Fusion Power Plant site in Chesterfield County. Previously, Strunkin served as executive vice president at MassDevelopment, where she oversaw day-to-day operations at Devens and played a key role in the sale of property to CFS for its headquarters, R&D, manufacturing, and fusion energy development. She also held leadership roles at VHB and the 495/MetroWest Partnership, bringing more than a decade of experience in regional economic development and public-private collaboration. She holds a BA in Political Science from Colgate University and a Master of International Relations from Boston University. 

Dr. Devon Battaglia is Senior Manager of Physics Operations for the SPARC® Tokamak at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), where he leads the team and processes supporting plasma operations. He has dedicated his career to fusion energy, beginning with a high school internship at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics and later spending more than a decade at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He has played a key role in operating tokamaks around the world and served on U.S. and international committees. Dr. Battaglia holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics and a B.A. in Music from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Recommended for all ages.