Helion Fusion Achieves 150 Million°C Milestone in Polaris Reactor, Accelerates Toward 2028 Microsoft Power Deal

Fusion startup Helion has achieved a major breakthrough by reaching plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius in its Polaris prototype reactor.

This milestone marks three-quarters of the way to the 200 million degrees needed for optimal commercial fusion power plant operation.

Helion's Innovative Pulsed Fusion Technology

Helion's field-reversed configuration design injects fuel into an hourglass-shaped chamber, accelerating plasmas with magnets to merge and compress rapidly.

Unlike traditional approaches, Helion uses a pulsed non-ignition method that generates electricity directly from the fusion reaction's magnetic fields.

The company is the first to operate Polaris with deuterium-tritium fuel, resulting in dramatically increased fusion power output as heat.

Path to Commercialization and Microsoft Deal

Helion is racing to deliver on a power purchase agreement with Microsoft, promising electricity from a 50-megawatt Orion reactor by 2028.

CEO David Kirtley expressed excitement, noting they are refining circuits for better electricity recovery and helium-3 fuel production onboard.

Historically, Helion raised $425 million from investors like Sam Altman and SoftBank, fueling progress amid a fusion funding boom.

This achievement positions Helion ahead in the clean energy race, potentially enabling efficient, limitless power faster than competitors targeting the early 2030s.

Future plans include scaling to Orion and adopting deuterium-helium-3 fuel for superior direct electricity generation efficiency.

The breakthrough underscores fusion's potential to transform global energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels with zero-carbon output.