Everett, Washington – Helion, a leading fusion energy company, has commenced groundbreaking on its first commercial-scale fusion power plant, Polaris, in Everett. This pivotal development, backed by a landmark power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft, marks a significant stride towards delivering grid-scale, carbon-free electricity by 2028. The facility aims to generate 50 megawatts (MW) of clean power, representing a critical inflection point for the nascent fusion industry and its potential to revolutionize global energy supply.

Helion’s approach utilizes magnetic inertial fusion, a method that combines magnetic confinement with pulsed compression to achieve the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion reactions. The Polaris plant will build upon the successes of Helion’s seventh-generation prototype, Trenta, which demonstrated net-energy gain in 2021. The system is designed to directly convert fusion energy into electricity, bypassing traditional steam cycles and potentially offering higher efficiency and lower capital costs. Its fuel sources, primarily isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium, are abundant, found in seawater and lithium, offering a virtually limitless and inherently safe energy supply.

Microsoft’s involvement underscores the growing corporate demand for reliable, dispatchable, and carbon-negative energy solutions. The PPA, announced in 2023, commits Microsoft to purchasing electricity from the Polaris plant, aligning with the tech giant’s ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable energy supply for its data centers by 2025 and becoming carbon-negative by 2030. This partnership provides crucial validation and financial impetus for Helion, demonstrating market confidence in fusion’s commercial viability.

The global energy landscape is increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuels, and fusion energy, despite its historical challenges, is gaining renewed attention and investment. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion produces no long-lived radioactive waste and carries no risk of meltdown. While still in its early commercialization phase, Helion’s groundbreaking signals a transition from pure research to tangible project development. This project positions the United States at the forefront of advanced energy innovation, potentially unlocking a new era of energy independence and environmental stewardship. The successful deployment of Polaris could accelerate further investment and development across the fusion sector, paving the way for a truly sustainable energy future.