Japanese startup announces plans to build world's first steady-state nuclear fusion reactor

A Japanese startup said it plans to build the world’s first nuclear fusion reactor that can produce power for an unlimited amount of time, aiming to launch in 2034 and begin commercial operations in the decade after.

Helical Fusion is aiming to build a “pilot reactor” that will have a generation capacity of 50-100 megawatts, its CEO told Reuters. Japan has invested 400 billion yen, or $2.8 billion, into research at the National Institute for Fusion Science, and the company’s CEO, Takaya Taguchi, said it plans to leverage the funds to commercialize fusion.