US Helion Energy breaks ground on world’s first commercial fusion power plant

American startup Helion Energy has officially commenced construction of what it claims will be the world’s first commercially viable fusion power plant, marking a major milestone in the race toward clean, sustainable energy.

The facility, named Orion, is set to be operational by 2028, with an initial power generation target of 50 MWe or more after a one-year ramp-up period, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to the company, Orion will leverage Helion’s proprietary pulsed, non-ignition fusion technology—an alternative approach to conventional fusion efforts. Helion describes its fusion system as a cost-effective, zero-carbon solution capable of delivering “flexible, scalable, baseload power that is affordable, providing the world a new path to full decarbonisation of electricity generation.”

In a significant commercial endorsement, tech giant Microsoft signed an agreement with Helion in May 2023 to purchase electricity generated from the plant. Constellation Energy, one of the leading energy companies in the US, will serve as the project's power marketer and manage electricity transmission.

Helion’s unique approach to fusion energy distinguishes it from other efforts in three key areas. Firstly, the company utilizes a pulsed fusion system rather than continuous ignition, which allows for a more compact design and enables on-demand energy output. Secondly, the system is engineered to directly convert fusion energy into electricity without relying on the traditional method of steam turbines, which suffer significant energy losses. Lastly, Helion uses deuterium and helium-3 as fuel sources—materials that enable efficient, small-scale operation.

"Our device directly recaptures electricity; it does not use heat to create steam to turn a turbine, nor does it require the immense energy input of cryogenic superconducting magnets," Helion states. "Our technical approach reduces efficiency loss, which is key to our ability to commercialise electricity from fusion at very low costs."

The company has built and tested six fusion prototypes to date, achieving a breakthrough in June 2021 by reaching 100-million-degree plasma temperatures with its sixth model, Trenta. Its seventh prototype, Polaris, began preliminary operations in Everett, Washington, in 2024.

Announcing the groundbreaking of Orion, Helion said: "After more than a decade designing and building record-breaking fusion machines, this is a significant moment for us as we prepare to bring fusion power to the world."

If successful, Helion’s fusion power plant could represent a paradigm shift in global energy production, offering a scalable solution to meet the growing demand for clean electricity while accelerating efforts to combat climate change.

By Vafa Guliyeva