Japanese start-up Helical Fusion has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Aoki Super, a major regional supermarket chain in central Japan. This is the first fusion-energy PPA signed in Japan.
The fusion reactor being developed by Helical Fusion is based on the stellarator design. Helix says the concept builds on nearly 70 years of global research, particularly at Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), which hosts the Large Helical Device (LHD), one of the world’s most advanced stellarator facilities. The company was founded in 2021 by Takaya Taguchi, a former banker, and two scientists from NIFS.
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Helical Fusion aims to deliver the world’s first commercially viable stellarator for electricity generation. 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 Programme. Helical Fusion plans to build a pilot reactor with a generation capacity of 50-100 megawatts-electrical (MWe) and have it operational around 2040.
Helical said the PPA “demonstrates that its development plan has been concretely evaluated by a real electricity consumer, Aoki Super, which requires large amounts of electricity every day to operate its store networks”. Both companies share the view that fusion energy can underpin environmentally responsible retail operations that support everyday life.
In July 2025, as part of its long-term commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, Aoki Super made a strategic investment in Helical Fusion. Helical Fusion closed its Series A round in July, securing funding of Y2.3bn ($15m). This brought total capital including grants and loans to Y5.2bn to support its Helix Programme.
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