Helion Energy has signed an agreement to provide Microsoft with electricity from its first fusion power plant, with Constellation serving as the power marketer and transmission manager. The plant is expected to come online by 2028 and generate at least 50 MW of power after a ramp-up period of one year, shortening the timeline for commercial fusion power.
The development of a commercial fusion power facility is an essential step toward a sustainable energy future and will aid Microsoft in achieving its goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030. Helion Energy has been advancing its fusion technology for over ten years and is currently constructing its seventh prototype, which is expected to demonstrate the ability to produce electricity in 2024. The collaboration between Helion Energy, Microsoft, and Constellation is a milestone for the fusion industry and a step toward carbon-free energy becoming the norm.
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Helion and the fusion industry as a whole,” said David Kirtley, CEO at Helion. “We are grateful for the support of a visionary company like Microsoft. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are confident in our ability to deliver the world’s first fusion power facility.”
“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. “Helion’s announcement supports our own long term clean energy goals and will advance the market to establish a new, efficient method for bringing more clean energy to the grid, faster.”
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Helion and the fusion industry as a whole,” said David Kirtley, CEO at Helion. “We are grateful for the support of a visionary company like Microsoft. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are confident in our ability to deliver the world’s first fusion power facility.”
