Helion

We've started construction on the site of the world's first fusion power plant, Orion. Located in Malaga, WA, Orion will begin delivering electricity from fusion to Microsoft by 2028. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gim5DXga

Building a fusion power plant starts with people.    On our path to breaking ground on Orion, we spent more than a year getting to know the Wenatchee Valley. We prioritized showing up, meeting the community where they are, and listening to what matters most to the people who live there. Now, we're excited to continue showing up and listening as we start construction in Malaga, WA.   Learn more about this work:

Nearly 350 Chelan County residents gathered at Mission View Elementary to learn about Helion long before we began construction of Orion. Through thoughtful questions and conversation over tamales, the signal to us was clear – Chelan County should be the home of the world’s first fusion power plant.      A look at Helion’s first public meeting in Malaga, Washington:  

Assembling Polaris shield walls! BPE blocks are secured within a steel frame connected to concrete, ensuring a precise fit for full power operations. With the walls now complete, we can test at full power.

We’re building a new air scrubber system for Polaris operations! It captures airborne elements, converts them, and ensures only clean air exits the facility.

We’re prototyping components for cable integration in future machines! Taking lessons learned from previous machines, we're working to optimize full-scale integration in our commercial systems. 

Test operators perform high-potential (hi-pot) electrical testing on the cables that connect our capacitor bank to Polaris’ electromagnetic coils. Cables are typically charged 40% above Polaris’ operating voltages to validate insulation integrity, measure direct and capacitive charging currents, and assess absorption characteristics. These tests help ensure Polaris is powered by reliable connections as we ramp up operations. #electricalengineering #fusion #hardware

Building has been our focus from the start. It’s what made it possible to design, construct, and test seven fusion prototypes, each one advancing key parts of our approach. Hear from Jacqueline Siebens on what building means at Helion and how it’s shaping the path ahead. Watch the full talk here: https://lnkd.in/gtS3zSFt

Helion's 6th generation prototype, Trenta, verified key fusion scaling relations. This performance was demonstrated using several types of neutron detectors, and I shared results from two of our more basic diagnostics at the APS DPP conference in October 2024. Check out our recording of this talk below to see how fusion yields scale strongly with the applied magnetic field, and be on the lookout as we present some of our other diagnostics this year and next (SRAM, diamond, activation foils, fission chambers, and various activation detectors like LaBr3 with Yttrium and a SiO2 detector based on Cherenkov interactions). Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gSAH8yHf

Test operators prepare for gigawatt scale pulsed power testing!    Before each test, our team completes thorough system checks to confirm that everything from the capacitor bank to the machine is ready for operation. Once walkthroughs are finished, testing begins. #testing #fusion #capacitorbank