Helion Races to Secure Polaris Permits Before Year-End

As 2024 winds down, Helion Energy’s Polaris program—the company’s seventh-generation fusion prototype—remains closely watched by both scientists and investors.

Located in Everett, Washington, Polaris represents a bold step toward commercially viable nuclear fusion. The ultimate target of continuously generating more energy than the system consumes remains just out of reach, but a series of recent permitting achievements suggests the latest prototype could soon be operational.

Key Permits

Helion’s path toward operational readiness saw a trio of critical authorizations this year. These permits not only mark progress but also hint at what might come next for the Polaris system:

1. Large Broad Scope License: In August 2024, Helion secured this license from the Washington State Department of Health, allowing the company to handle and utilize low-level radioactive materials generated as by-products of its fusion reactions. This regulatory milestone was essential for conducting experimental operations safely and legally.

2. Construction Advances: Through 2024, Helion made steady progress at its Everett site. The company’s efforts have included installing critical components like capacitor banks and magnetic confinement systems. These systems are crucial for achieving the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion, and the permitting process for these installations was a significant logistical and regulatory hurdle.

3. Temporary Certificate of Occupancy: Most recently, Helion received this certificate for the Polaris facility, signaling that major construction phases are complete and the site is ready for preliminary operations. This approval underscores the facility’s readiness to move into active testing phases.

Fusion Technology Without the Steam

Helion’s innovative approach to fusion sets it apart from its competitors in the fusion race. Their reactor uses magnetized target confinement, essentially two magnetic confinement reactors facing each other. The hydrogen plasma is heated and compressed at both ends before being accelerated into a high-speed collision at the center, where the extreme pressure and temperature trigger fusion.

Unlike rivals' designs that rely on generating heat to drive steam turbines, Polaris employs direct energy conversion. The system uses electromagnetic induction to transform fusion-generated plasma energy into electricity without an intermediary steam cycle. This efficiency-focused design is central to Helion’s strategy for scaling fusion power economically.

What’s Next for Polaris?

While Helion initially aimed for Polaris to demonstrate net energy generation by the end of 2024, the focus now appears to be on completing rigorous testing and fine-tuning. The permitting achievements signal that Polaris is nearing an operational phase, even if full functionality may be further on the horizon.

Industry observers remain optimistic. Helion’s recent progress suggests the company could soon announce a significant milestone, possibly related to the initiation of plasma testing or early energy output measurements. Such advancements would validate Helion’s approach, setting the groundwork to raise additional capital and potentially accelerate the timeline for commercializing fusion energy.