Observed Signal · Feb 13, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: TechCrunch · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Helion's Fusion Reactor Hits 150 Million Degrees Celsius!
Helion, a fusion energy startup based in Everett, Washington, reported that plasmas in its Polaris prototype reactor reached 150 million degrees Celsius, about three-quarters of the temperature it says is needed for a commercial plant. Polaris is operating on deuterium-tritium fuel; Helion says this makes it the first fusion company to do so. The company uses a field-reversed configuration and a direct electricity-recovery approach that harvests current induced by fusion magnetic fields rather than extracting heat. Helion raised $425 million last year and has a contract with Microsoft to sell electricity starting in 2028 from a larger 50‑megawatt reactor, Orion, currently under construction. The company aims to reach 200 million degrees Celsius and plans a long-term fuel cycle that incorporates deuterium–helium-3.
Demonstrates a major technical milestone (150M°C) toward commercial fusion, validates Helion's distinct direct-electricity approach, and ties to a 2028 commercial contract with Microsoft — significant for industry advancement and investor momentum.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Helion reported plasmas in its Polaris prototype reached 150 million degrees Celsius.
- Polaris is operating with deuterium-tritium fuel; Helion says it is the first fusion company to do so.
- Helion raised $425 million last year from investors including Sam Altman, Mithril, Lightspeed, and SoftBank.
- Helion has a contract with Microsoft to sell electricity beginning in 2028 and is building a 50-megawatt reactor called Orion.
- Helion uses a field-reversed configuration and direct electricity recovery via the fusion reaction's magnetic fields and aims to reach 200 million degrees Celsius for optimal power-plant operation.
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Race to Power the Grid by 2035 Widens
Tech companies' growing AI compute needs are driving investment and commercial deals across fusion, small modular fission, natural gas, and long-duration battery storage as contenders to supply reliable 24/7 power by 2035. Natural gas remains the current baseload choice but faces supply-chain vulnerabilities and multi-year turbine backlogs. Several small modular reactor (SMR) firms and fusion startups aim to connect commercial plants to grids in the early 2030s; notable projects include Kairos Power's Hermes 2 demo, Oklo's 2028 target, Commonwealth Fusion Systems' demo and 400 MW Arc, and Helion's aggressive plan to deliver electricity to Microsoft by 2028 and to supply OpenAI at multi-gigawatt scale by 2030–2035. Cost and scale remain key hurdles: current levelized costs for new nuclear and fusion are high versus gas and renewables paired with batteries, while new long-duration storage (iron‑air, organic fluid designs) could undercut alternatives.
Proxima Fusion invests €140M in HTS tape plant
German fusion startup Proxima Fusion announced plans to build a €140 million factory in Lower Saxony to produce high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape, a critical component for its stellarator reactor design. The facility will reduce reliance on Asian suppliers, which currently dominate HTS tape production. The company will use a mix of public and private funding, with the state government contributing €21 million. Proxima recently raised €411 million, positioning it among top-funded fusion startups. The factory aims to secure supply for its demonstration plant, which requires 20,000 km of tape, and future commercial plants needing double that amount.
Twilio Co-Founder’s Fusion Startup Secures $450M Funding Boost
Inertia Enterprises, a fusion power startup co-founded by Twilio's Jeff Lawson, has raised $450 million in a Series A funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from GV, Modern Capital, and Threshold Ventures. The company aims to build a grid-scale power plant using advanced laser technology developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF). Inertia's laser technology differs from NIF's by being more cost-efficient and scalable. This investment is part of a growing trend in fusion energy funding, with companies like Commonwealth Fusion Systems and TAE Technologies also raising significant amounts recently.
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