Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Takaya Taguchi), a company developing Helical Stellarators under the Helix Program to realize the world’s first commercially viable net power fusion power plant, has signed a procurement agreement with Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Fuji Electric”), a leading electronics manufacturer with over a century of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors. The agreement covers power supply systems for high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets—key components of Helical Fusion’s commercial fusion power plant.
The procured systems will first be used in Helix HARUKA, a testbed device scheduled to integrate key technologies around 2030. These same systems are also intended for future deployment in Helix KANATA, Helical Fusion’s flagship device planned for commercial power generation in the 2030s. This agreement marks a foundational step in securing long-term technological continuity and accelerating the realization of fusion energy under the Helix Program.
Image: Concept of an HTS magnet system confining plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius
Importance of Power Supply Systems for High-Temperature Superconducting Magnets
Helical Fusion’s technology builds upon nearly 70 years of research in plasma physics and reactor design, passed down from the world’s foremost national research institute in fusion, the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) in Japan. From the perspective of both fundamental science and engineering, the company has already overcome most of the hurdles to practical implementation.
One of the final and most critical remaining challenges is the development of HTS magnets capable of generating the strong, precise magnetic fields required to confine fusion plasma. Once realized, HTS magnets have potential applications beyond fusion, including aerospace and ultra-efficient power transmission. In recognition of the project’s significance, Helical Fusion’s HTS magnet development program was selected for Japan’s SBIR Phase 3 grant for approximately USD 13 million in 2023.
To operate these magnets, highly specialized power systems are required—capable of delivering extremely large currents (tens of thousands of amperes) at low voltage, with high speed and precision. Fuji Electric will supply power equipment and peripheral systems that meet the specifications for both Helix HARUKA and the future Helix KANATA. The ability to procure such systems from a trusted, proven partner is a key pillar supporting the Helix Program’s pathway to commercial fusion.
Note: High-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets are next-generation components that operate at higher temperatures than conventional low-temperature superconductors. They can produce stronger magnetic fields, enabling more compact and efficient fusion reactors and accelerating the path to commercialization.
About Fuji Electric
Established in 1923, Fuji Electric has supported industrial and social infrastructure in Japan and around the world for over 100 years. The company is a leader in the energy and environment sector, contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society through the provision of renewable energy systems, stable power supply technologies, energy efficiency solutions, and industrial automation.
the logo of Fuji Electric
Outlook
Under the Helix Program, Helical Fusion is advancing development of Helix HARUKA, a device designed to demonstrate integrated fusion technologies by around 2030. This will be followed by the construction and operation of Helix KANATA, a commercially viable net power fusion power plant, in the 2030s. The power supply systems procured from Fuji Electric will be used in both devices.
Background
Global electricity demand is projected to rise sharply by 2050, fueled by population growth and the rapid expansion of energy-hungry technologies like AI. Conventional sources cannot sustainably meet this demand. Fusion, fueled by abundant seawater, offers zero-carbon baseload energy—if technical and economic barriers can be overcome.
Analysts project a USD 550 billion annual market for fusion by mid-century*. Helical Fusion’s Series A attracted investors including SBI Investment, Keio Innovation Initiative (KII), and 17 other institutions(19 in total) alongside individual investors and public financial institutions, reflecting a growing commitment across Asia to compete in the global fusion race.
*FusionX/Helixos report Global Fusion Market Analysis: Electricity, Supply Chain & Construction
“Helix KANATA”: The First Steady-State Net Power Fusion Plant
Image: Concept of “Helix KANATA” Helical Fusion’s first commercially viable net-power fusion power plant
The flagship of Helical Fusion’s effort is Helix KANATA, a full-scale pilot plant designed for steady-state, net-electric fusion power. Preceding it is Helix HARUKA, an intermediate device for component and system validation.
Together, they form the Helix Program, targeting:
- Continuous operation — stable power 24/7/365
- Net electricity — energy-positive performance
- High maintainability — efficient maintenance for high uptime
From Science to Engineering: Advancing Beyond the Experimental Stage
What sets the Helical Stellarator apart from other approaches is that it has already cleared the critical scientific phase of plasma, an essential requirement for a commercial plant. This allows Helical Fusion to focus on the next phase: engineering and manufacturing a real-world fusion power plant.
Helical Fusion is now collaborating with leading industrial partners known for world-class manufacturing capabilities, steadily turning concepts into reality through technical partnerships, joint research agreements, and engineering collaborations.
These partnerships span a wide range of technical domains, including the development of proprietary high-temperature superconducting magnets and liquid metal blankets, both critical to realizing commercial fusion power plants.
About Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based startup dedicated to realizing the world’s first commercially viable net power fusion power plant through its proprietary Helical Stellarator design. Building on decades of national research, the company is advancing the Helix Program—a staged pathway from the experimental Helix HARUKA to the commercial Helix KANATA—by collaborating with leading industrial and financial partners.
