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

A look at plasma through the end of Polaris. The fuchsia glow you see is a result of ionized hydrogen isotopes emitting light. When these isotopes are heated to extremely high temperatures, like in our FRC plasmas, their electrons gain enough energy to overcome the attraction of the nucleus and become free – a process known as ionization. During ionization, electrons emit photons at specific wavelengths: hydrogen includes red (H-alpha at 656 nm) and blue-violet lines, and the combination of these emissions creates a pink or fuchsia glow visible to the human eye.

You’ve probably heard that ignition is the ultimate goal in fusion. We approach fusion in a different way. Ignition (where fusion reactions sustain the plasma without external input) is a powerful scientific milestone, but it's not a requirement to put fusion electricity on the grid. Instead of relying on ignition, we’ve engineered a system that generates electricity directly, using pulsed plasma, high-beta FRCs, and magnetic energy recovery. It’s a fundamentally different architecture, built from the ground up for power output, not just plasma performance. We’re not chasing self-sustaining burn. Instead, we’re building a power plant. Our goal has always been practical fusion. Not theory. Not decades away. Real machines. Real electricity. I wrote this blog to explain why our approach doesn’t depend on ignition and why that matters if you want fusion to scale in the real world: https://lnkd.in/gun8XRaa

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