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 material arriving at the Orion site! 

Commercial fusion power is coming to Washington! Our CEO David Kirtley shares our latest progress toward the world’s first fusion power plant on Fox 13 Seattle. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gjydsUTg

Validating and calibrating Polaris’ neutron diagnostics! Our team simulates D-D and D-T fusion conditions to verify that our diagnostics perform as expected in high-fluence environments. The systems we're working with enable us to calibrate detectors and ensure our diagnostic suite reads accurately throughout fusion operations.

Installing the roof shielding for Polaris! The full shielding structure is locked into place. Inside the walls are modular layers of shielding to absorb fusion byproducts and protect the rest of the facility during each pulse. It was one of the final steps in preparing Polaris for full-power fusion testing.

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.