Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion in talks to sell power to OpenAI
OpenAI could secure 50 gigawatts of clean energy, requiring Helion to build 8,000 reactors.
Sam Altman's fusion energy startup, Helion, is in preliminary discussions to sell a massive amount of power to OpenAI, the AI giant he leads. According to an Axios report, the potential deal could guarantee OpenAI 12.5% of Helion's projected output: five gigawatts by 2030 and 50 gigawatts by 2035. To meet this target, Helion would need to build and install 8,000 of its 50-megawatt reactors, a monumental scaling challenge. In a move to avoid conflict, Altman has stepped down from his role as Chairman of Helion's Board, with the company stating the decision "enables Helion and OpenAI to partner on future opportunities."
Helion is pursuing a unique technical path, using magnets to directly convert fusion energy into electricity, unlike competitors that rely on heat and steam turbines. The company's Polaris prototype has already generated plasmas at 150 million degrees Celsius, nearing the 200 million degrees required for commercial operation. This potential deal mirrors a 2023 agreement Helion signed with Microsoft, OpenAI's major partner and investor. If successful, Helion's rapid commercial timeline would place it years ahead of other fusion startups, positioning it as a critical power provider for the energy-intensive AI industry, which is desperately seeking reliable, carbon-free electricity.
- Potential deal guarantees OpenAI 50 gigawatts of fusion power by 2035, requiring 8,000 reactors.
- Sam Altman stepped down as Helion's board chair to facilitate the partnership and avoid conflicts.
- Helion's unique magnet-based reactor design aims for commercial operation years ahead of 2030s competitors.
Why It Matters
Securing vast, clean energy is critical for powering future AI models and could define the industry's environmental footprint.