On May 10, 2023, Helion Energy announced that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to provide the company with electricity from its first fusion power plant.[1] Constellation Energy will serve as the power marketer and will manage transmission for the project. Helion’s fusion power plant is expected to be online by 2028, and the company is targeting power generation of 50 MW or greater after a 1-year ramp-up period. Helion has previously built six working prototypes and was the first private fusion company to reach 100-million-degree plasma temperatures with its sixth fusion prototype. Currently, the company is building its seventh prototype, which is expected to demonstrate the ability to produce electricity in 2024.

“We are optimistic that fusion energy can be an important technology to help the world transition to clean energy,” said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft. The development of a commercial fusion power facility will help Microsoft to achieve its goal of being carbon negative by 2030 and also support the development of a new clean energy source for the world.

[1] https://www.helionenergy.com/articles/helion-announces-worlds-first-fusion-ppa-with-microsoft/