Giant energy deal from Microsoft: The software giant will get its power from fusion

US private nuclear fusion company Helion Energy said in a statement that it will provide electricity to Microsoft in about five years, in the first-of-its-kind deal for the sun-powered but hard-to-find power supply on Earth. At the end of last year, the United States had achieved a net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the first time.

More than 30 companies are racing to produce energy from fusion that could one day help the world reduce emissions linked to climate change. Unlike today’s fission reactors, it can produce energy by fusion without producing long-term radioactive waste. Fusion occurs when two light atoms, such as hydrogen, heated to extreme temperatures, combine to form a heavier atom, releasing large amounts of energy.

Until now, fusion reactions around the world have been instantaneous and absorb more energy than they release, but companies have raised around $5 billion from private funds to generate net energy gains.

Helion plans to establish the plant by 2028

It was stated that the facility of nuclear fusion company Helion, where some of these resources go, is expected to be operational by 2028 and will aim to produce 50 megawatts or more of energy. One megawatt can meet the daily needs of approximately 1000 homes with ordinary use. Therefore, 50 megawatts is not a huge energy capacity, but when it comes to fusion, it is truly revolutionary to say that this much energy will be produced in just 5 years.

“50 megawatts is a great first step towards commercial-scale fusion,” said David Kirtley, founder and CEO of Helion. Kirtley states that Helion’s seventh-generation machine, Polaris, will be operational next year and will generate electricity using a mix of laser and magnet technologies to achieve fusion. It should be noted that in 2021, Helion was the first private company to reach 100 million degrees Celsius.

While many fusion companies turn to tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen, to aid fuel reactions, Helion plans to use Helium 3, a rare gas used in quantum computing. Helion has so far raised more than $570 million in private equity with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Historic energy deal signed with Microsoft

Microsoft vice president Brad Smith said in a statement that Helion’s work “supports our own long-term clean energy goals and will advance the market to create a new and efficient way to bring more clean energy to the grid faster.” However, the details of the agreement were not shared.

Helion still needs local permits as well as design and construction approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). However, the NRC’s decision to separate the fusion regulation from the fission regulation last month delighted the fusion industry; Proponents say this step could shorten the time for license approvals.

Andrew Holland, President of the Fusion Industry Association, said that nothing about fusion is easy, but the deal shows that trust is built. “The business community is starting to realize that fusion is coming, and perhaps sooner than many people think,” Holland said in an interview.