Japan-based fusion energy developer Helical Fusion has closed its Series A funding round, securing Y2.3bn ($15m).
The funding brings Helical Fusion's total funds, including grants and loans, to Y5.2bn.
This investment supports the company's Helix programme, which aims to establish a steady-state net power fusion plant by the 2030s.
The investors supporting Helical Fusion’s Series A funding round include SBI Investment, Keio Innovation Initiative (KII), 19 other institutions and public financial institutions.
Helical Fusion’s fusion reactor is based on the stellarator design, a unique approach to nuclear fusion that enables a stable and continuous plasma operation.
This method benefits from extensive experimental data and aligns with research at Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science.
Helical Fusion’s Helix programme comprises two projects: Helix KANATA, a pilot plant engineered to achieve continuous, net-positive electricity generation from fusion power, and Helix HARUKA, dedicated to validating components and systems.
Helical Fusion co-founder and CEO Takaya Taguchi stated: “Until now, we have relied on the energy of the sun and the Earth. If we can create that energy ourselves, humanity will achieve true energy independence for the first time in its history. That’s why we believe that commercial fusion is the ultimate step in humanity’s energy journey.
“This is an ambitious goal, and we cannot do it alone. We welcome partners who share our vision: to pioneer a new global industry, empower nations through energy independence, and lead the world into a more sustainable future.”
Helical’s stellarator-based design has already cleared the critical scientific phase of plasma - a vital prerequisite for a commercial plant.
This achievement allows the company to concentrate on the engineering challenges associated with building an operational facility.
Helical Fusion is also collaborating with industrial partners through joint research agreements and engineering alliances.
The collaborations are in technical fields, including the creation of proprietary high-temperature superconducting magnets and liquid metal blankets. Both of these are essential for the successful implementation of commercial fusion power plants.
