From SpaceX to Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Darby Dunn’s Journey to Clean Energy
Heading 1: Introduction
Heading 2: From Rockets to Fusion Energy
Heading 3: Joining Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Heading 4: The Journey of Company Growth
Heading 5: Maturity of Respective Industries
Heading 6: The Challenges of Commercializing Fusion Energy
Heading 7: Speed is Key
Heading 8: The Urgent Need to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Heading 9: The Importance of Fusion Energy in the Decades to Come
Heading 10: Conclusion
Introduction:
Darby Dunn, a former SpaceX engineer, has switched to a new venture, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which is attempting to commercialize nuclear fusion as an energy source.
From Rockets to Fusion Energy:
Dunn held a number of engineering and production roles at SpaceX from March 2009 to December 2018, with her unofficial title being the “Mother of Dragons.” She led the build-out of their new manufacturing facilities for the crew Dragon vehicle and saw SpaceX go from ramping up production to sending cargo to the International Space Station.
Joining Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Dunn started working with Commonwealth Fusion Systems as its 10th employee in January 2019, with the goal of making fusion energy a reality. She wants to see the impact of her efforts on cleaning up the planet in her lifetime. Commonwealth Fusion Systems spun out of research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the company’s goal is to build 10,000 fusion power plants around the world by 2050.
The Journey of Company Growth:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is a 5-year-old company with 500 employees. Dunn previously joined SpaceX when it was 6 years old with roughly the same number of employees. She’s able to see the entire era that she missed at SpaceX and is excited about being part of the early stages of a new venture.
Maturity of Respective Industries:
The maturity of the respective industries differs significantly. Building rockets has been around for a long time, and the mechanics of it are well studied and understood. On the other hand, fusion machines have been studied in academic settings and research labs since the early 1950s. The entire industry is in the first stages of proving that the science can have commercial applications.
The Challenges of Commercializing Fusion Energy:
The challenge for Commonwealth Fusion Systems is to prove that it can generate more energy in its fusion reactor than is necessary to get the reaction started, a key threshold for the fusion industry called “ignition.” To do that, the company is building its SPARC tokamak device, which will help contain and control the fusion reaction.
Speed is Key:
Dunn is helping Commonwealth Fusion Systems make the transition from research and development-scale processes to manufacturing and full-scale production. After building the SPARC, the company aims to build a bigger version called ARC that will deliver electricity to the grid. The aim is to have ARC online in the 2030s. Speed matters because critics argue that it will take too long to get fusion to work as an energy source to meaningfully contribute to the very urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Urgent Need to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Top climate scientists at the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said that to have “no or limited” overshoot of the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming above preindustrial levels will require a 45% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and hitting net zero around 2050.
The Importance of Fusion Energy in the Decades to Come:
While Dunn believes in solar power and wind and a lot of other renewables, she does not think they will be enough to get us to 2050 and beyond. Electric cars, heat pumps, green steel, and green cement all depend on having large quantities of clean electricity. It’s her focus to build the energy sources that the world will need in the decades and centuries to come.
Conclusion:
Dunn’s journey to Commonwealth Fusion Systems highlights the importance of clean energy and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the challenges of commercializing fusion energy are significant, the mission to build the energy sources that the world will need in the decades and centuries to come is an urgent one. Commonwealth Fusion Systems aims to be a significant part of that mission, and Dunn’s role in the venture is vital.