Helion’s Bold Plan for Fusion Power
A Billion-Dollar Investment in Clean Energy
The race to achieve controlled nuclear fusion is heating up, and Helion is at the forefront. The Washington-based startup recently secured an additional $425 million, bringing total investments to over $1 billion. The company aims to build a fusion power plant capable of delivering electricity by 2028, with Microsoft signed on as its first customer.
Helion’s journey began in 2021 when it became the first private company to heat plasma to 100 million degrees Celsius, a crucial step toward fusion energy. Shortly after, the company announced plans to construct a manufacturing facility for its seventh-generation reactor, Polaris. Initially, Helion projected profitability by 2024, but now it is focused on achieving commercial-scale fusion power before the decade’s end.
A Unique Approach to Fusion Energy
Unlike traditional fusion reactors that rely on tokamaks or inertial confinement, Helion employs a field-reversed magnetic configuration to confine superheated plasma composed of deuterium and helium-3. This approach allows the plasma to gradually reach fusion temperatures while being compressed by magnetic forces.
Helion’s key innovation lies in direct energy conversion. Instead of using steam turbines, the plasma expands and interacts with the magnetic field, generating electricity directly. This eliminates complex thermal cycles, making the system more efficient and scalable.
Testing Polaris: The Path to Industrial Fusion
Currently, Polaris is undergoing rigorous testing in Washington. Measuring just 2,500 square meters, it is relatively compact compared to other fusion reactors. If successful, it could become the first commercial fusion power source.
Meanwhile, New Zealand startup OpenStar has made significant progress in fusion research. With a budget of under $10 million, it achieved a 300,000°C plasma temperature for 20 seconds using a levitating superconducting magnet—a novel alternative to conventional magnetic confinement.
Fusion Energy: The Road Ahead
Helion is rapidly expanding its production capabilities and infrastructure, racing against competitors to bring fusion energy to the grid. If successful, it could mark a major breakthrough in clean, limitless power—ushering in a new era of sustainable energy.
