Fusion energy startup Helion is reportedly engaged in discussions to supply power to OpenAI, a notable connection given that both companies share Sam Altman as a prominent backer.
As reported by Axios, this potential agreement is in its nascent stages but could secure OpenAI a substantial 12.5% of Helion's projected energy output, aiming for five gigawatts by 2030 and an ambitious 50 gigawatts by 2035. This prospective collaboration follows a similar power purchase agreement struck in 2023 between Helion and Microsoft, a key OpenAI partner, with power delivery slated to commence in 2028.
Should the figures cited in the Axios report prove accurate, they would underscore Helion's profound confidence in its ability to rapidly scale its fusion power plant production. Given Helion's stated capacity of 50 megawatts per reactor, achieving these targets would necessitate the construction and deployment of 800 reactors by 2030, followed by an additional 7,200 units by 2035.
Helion did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from TechCrunch regarding these developments.
Helion is aggressively pursuing the development of its inaugural commercial-scale reactor within this ambitious timeframe. Successful execution would position the startup years ahead of many competitors, most of whom are projecting commercial operations to begin in the early 2030s.
Last year, the startup successfully secured $425 million in funding from a consortium of investors, prominently featuring Altman, alongside firms such as Mitril, Lightspeed, and Softbank.
While the majority of fusion startups typically focus on two primary methods—extracting heat from fusion reactions to power steam turbines for electricity generation—Helion employs a distinct approach. Its reactor design is engineered to directly convert fusion energy into electricity using magnetic fields.
Within its distinctive hourglass-shaped reactor, fusion fuel is initially converted into plasma at opposing ends before being propelled towards each other by magnetic fields. Upon their collision in the central chamber, a subsequent array of magnets compresses the resulting plasma ball until fusion is initiated. This powerful reaction exerts pressure on the magnets, enabling the direct conversion of that energy into electrical power.
Helion is presently operating its Polaris prototype, a crucial step in its journey toward commercial power generation. In February, the company achieved a significant milestone, generating plasmas within the reactor that reached 150 million degrees Celsius, nearing the 200 million degrees Celsius threshold identified as necessary for viable commercial operations.
Despite reports that Sam Altman has resigned from his role as Helion’s board chair and recused himself from these specific discussions, his significant influence on these strategic partnerships remains evident.
This mirrors a similar move last year when Altman relinquished his position as board chair of Oklo, a small modular nuclear reactor startup that had merged with his acquisition company, AltC. At the time, Caroline Cochran, Oklo’s co-founder and chief operating officer, stated to CNBC that this decision was "intended to allow Oklo to explore strategic partnerships with leading AI companies, including potentially with OpenAI."
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