Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 11, 2023

Microsoft to Use Power From Fusion Plant

Microsoft will adopt the use of electricity from a fusion power plant that is expected to generate 50 MW or more.

Helion Energy announced an agreement to provide Microsoft with electricity from its first fusion power plant. The power marketer for the project will be Constellation, which will also manage transmission. The plant is expected to be online by 2028 and seeks to target power generation of 50 MW or greater after a one-year ramp-up period. 

The development of a commercial fusion power facility will help Microsoft achieve its goal of being carbon negative by 2030.

“We are optimistic that fusion energy can be an important technology to help the world transition to clean energy,” said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft, in a statement. “Helion’s announcement supports our own long-term clean energy goals and will advance the market to establish a new, efficient method for bringing more clean energy to the grid, faster.”

Helion, a privately held clean energy company, has been developing its fusion technology for more than a decade. The company previously constructed six working prototypes, and with its sixth fusion prototype was the first private fusion company to reach 100-million-degree plasma temperatures. Helion is currently building its seventh prototype, which is expected to demonstrate the ability to produce electricity in 2024.

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