The Orion plant, Helion’s first commercial fusion power facility, is expected to begin operations by 2028, targeting a minimum output of 50 megawatts of electricity after a one-year ramp-up period. Helion’s technology uses a pulsed, non-ignition fusion system, designed to provide scalable, zero-carbon baseload power. The company stated: “After more than a decade designing and building record-breaking fusion machines, this is a significant moment for us as we prepare to bring fusion power to the world.”
Helion’s approach to fusion energy is distinct in three key ways. First, its pulsed fusion system addresses complex physics challenges, allowing for a smaller, adjustable device that adapts to energy demands. Second, the system directly recovers electricity, avoiding energy losses associated with traditional methods that use heat to generate steam for turbines. Third, it employs deuterium and helium-3 as fuel, enhancing efficiency and compactness. Helion explained: “Our device directly recaptures electricity; it does not use heat to create steam to turn a turbine, nor does it require the immense energy input of cryogenic superconducting magnets.”
In May 2023, Microsoft signed an agreement with Helion to receive electricity from the Orion plant. Constellation Energy will act as the power marketer and manage transmission for the project. Helion’s technology builds on its history of innovation, having developed six working prototypes. In June 2021, its sixth prototype, Trenta, became the first private fusion system to achieve 100-million-degree plasma temperatures. Helion’s seventh prototype, Polaris, located in Everett, Washington, began initial operations in 2024.
The Orion plant represents a milestone in Helion’s mission to commercialize fusion energy at low costs. By leveraging its patented technology, the company aims to provide a reliable, affordable energy source that supports global decarbonization efforts. The construction in Malaga underscores Helion’s commitment to delivering sustainable electricity to meet the needs of major technology partners like Microsoft.
