I’d say this latest performance announcement is confirmation that Helion Polaris upgrade from Trenta has proven their stepwise learning on machine design. Next stop is going from 150M C to 200M C for He3 - Deut. 2028 commercial is fast approaching. David Kirtley has a great team.
Counting the days to commercial fusion. It is not that long now.
Anyone doubting that Helion is doing well in keeping their secrets. China is catching up and then it will be about the industrial base. This is why a lot of people in the US fusion industry are pushing so hard for building exactly that!
I actually think (as much as it will annoy me and all of us) that Helion should go back into stealth mode. Though, it might already be too late because the cat is already out of the bag and China knows where this is going. The US (forget about Europe, they are still sleeping and will sleep until it is too late) is moving too slowly. This is the next big thing and it is coming... fast! https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-09/W ... kKY/p.html
I actually think (as much as it will annoy me and all of us) that Helion should go back into stealth mode.
Electric power growth need is insane. Space solar, Commercial Fusion push are hard to digest. Solar is old tech but space launch cost about to plunge makes it a breakthrough, yet there is predictability to it. OTH, a tech breakthrough from a single fusion company such as Avalanche or Energy Zap could surprise shock the market due to rapid scalability. Further, Helion with its low cost plasma to electric conversion approach has a 2028 target for 1st Commercial; not too much time for stealth to matter.
The point is that dizzy heads are spinning with the pending electric power revolution & Tech is throwing the kitchen sink at power needs, (with EU a ’Snoozing Beauty’). It’s a crazy time.
Counting the days to commercial fusion. It is not that long now.
This is going to be a major geopolitical disruption as well. And that is where I am worried. If China-- even as a fast follower-- managed to take the global market here, it would give them geopolitical leverage. That is something the US cannot afford to let happen.
I mean, even without fusion major geopolitical disruption is kinda the topic du jour, no? I don't buy into all the hype, but think AI is the quicker and bigger hit.... but maybe if you don't have fusion, it dampens the impact?
(major geopolitical disruption = weaponized version of this: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PE3Moz_KBYk. And also, if this is a deep fake, still a major geopolitical disruption)