On Friday, Helion Energy reported significant advancements in the commercial fusion landscape, having reached a plasma temperature of 150 million degrees Celsius and becoming the first private entity to utilize tritium as a fuel source in its fusion reactor. This achievement marks a notable step in the ongoing efforts to harness fusion energy, a goal that has yet to be fully realized by any organization worldwide.
Based in Everett, Washington, Helion is currently constructing a commercial power facility in Eastern Washington, with plans to initiate operations by 2028. This timeline has drawn skepticism from various experts in the field. In conjunction with building the facility, Helion is conducting essential tests on its seventh-generation reactor, Polaris, which recently achieved critical temperature and fuel benchmarks.
Helion's approach involves magneto-inertial fusion technology, where energy pulses compress plasma within the reactor, facilitating fusion reactions. Although the company has not extensively published peer-reviewed research, it has shared insights on its progress with select specialists in the fusion sector. CEO David Kirtley emphasized the company's history of developing fusion prototypes, highlighting the steady advancement toward operational power plants.