Helion Secures $175 Million to Enhance Semiconductor Efficiency for Fusion Power Plants
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Helion, a fusion startup, has received $175 million in federal funding to develop advanced semiconductors and power electronics for its fusion power plants. This funding aims to reduce electricity loss from 5% to 10%, potentially doubling the power output of its systems, according to CEO David Kirtley.
The significance of this funding lies in its potential to enhance the efficiency of Helion's power plants, particularly the Orion plant, which is set to provide electricity to Microsoft by 2028. The new semiconductor production line in Washington State will be the first in the U.S. to manufacture a specific class of semiconductors applicable across various industries, including manufacturing and defense.
Looking ahead, while the R&D funded by this award may not impact the Orion launch, it is expected to improve the efficiency of future Helion power plants, making them more competitive in the electricity market. Helion's innovative approach to fusion, which directly converts fusion reactions into electricity, relies heavily on semiconductor efficiency.
Original report
Fusion startup Helion is developing new semiconductors that could double output of its power plants
TechCrunch · Tim De ChantThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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