American company receives historic authorization to build the world's first nuclear fusion plant in Washington and promises to deliver 50 MW of energy to Microsoft's data center by 2028, even without proven commercial technology.

American company receives historic authorization to build the world’s first nuclear fusion plant in Washington and promises to deliver 50 MW of energy to Microsoft’s data center by 2028, even without proven commercial technology.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 17/06/2026 at 17:11

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Helion Energy’s Orion Project received licenses from the Washington Department of Health to advance reactor construction and has an agreement to supply 50 MW of fusion energy to a Microsoft data center by 2028

The regulatory approval obtained by Helion Energy allows for the construction of the Orion reactor in Washington, bringing the world’s first nuclear fusion plant closer to an agreement to supply 50 MW to Microsoft by 2028.

Helion Energy received the necessary authorizations to advance the construction of the world’s first nuclear fusion plant in Malaga, Washington state, where the Orion project already has completed buildings and is set to begin the generator phase.

Nuclear fusion plant advances in Washington

The company obtained a Radioactive Materials License and a Radioactive Air Emissions License from the Washington Department of Health. The permits allow the start of construction of the generator building in the complex.

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Agreement provides energy for Microsoft

Helion maintains an agreement with Microsoft to supply 50 MW of fusion energy to a data center by 2028. The goal depends on the company’s ability to bring its reactor into operation within the scheduled timeframe.

Nuclear fusion is pointed out as a carbon-free generation alternative, based on the reaction that occurs in the Sun. The technology can produce energy from simple atoms, like hydrogen and its isotopes.

Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not generate large volumes of radioactive waste that need to be safely stored. It can also operate on demand, unlike sources like solar and wind, which depend on storage.

Regulation follows a different path from fission

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates fusion under the byproduct materials framework, in the same category as particle accelerators and hospitals, not as traditional nuclear reactors.

This distinction was also ratified by the United States Congress in the ADVANCE Act of 2024, indicating a different regulatory path for the technology.

Helion has not yet published a peer-reviewed article demonstrating the operation of its reactor with net energy generation, a central point for the commercial viability of the proposal.

The company also signed a transmission interconnection agreement with the Chelan County Public Utility District, allowing the plant’s energy to be delivered to the power grid.

The main question now is whether Helion will be able to meet the schedule and supply energy to Microsoft’s data center by 2028.

What do you think of this advancement in nuclear fusion and the agreement between Helion and Microsoft? Leave your opinion in the comments, especially about the challenges of turning a technology that is not yet commercial into a real energy source for data centers.

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American company receives historic authorization to build the world’s first nuclear fusion plant in Washington and promises to deliver 50 MW of energy to Microsoft’s data center by 2028, even without proven commercial technology.

Helion Energy’s Orion Project received licenses from the Washington Department of Health to advance reactor construction and has an agreement to supply 50 MW of fusion energy to a Microsoft data center by 2028

Nuclear fusion plant advances in Washington

Agreement provides energy for Microsoft

Regulation follows a different path from fission

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American company receives historic authorization to build the world’s first nuclear fusion plant in Washington and promises to deliver 50 MW of energy to Microsoft’s data center by 2028, even without proven commercial technology.

Helion Energy’s Orion Project received licenses from the Washington Department of Health to advance reactor construction and has an agreement to supply 50 MW of fusion energy to a Microsoft data center by 2028

Nuclear fusion plant advances in Washington

Agreement provides energy for Microsoft

Regulation follows a different path from fission

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

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He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Libya built over 4,000 kilometers of underground pipelines to bring water from the Sahara to coastal cities in a project that the government itself called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

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