Kirtley says scaling fusion plants depends on accelerating semiconductor technology, and the federal award plus private funds will let Helion build advanced chips domestically.

Building fusion power plants at scale requires us to accelerate the development of technologies like semiconductors that are critical to making fusion possible. This award combined with additional private investment, totaling $225 million, will allow Helion to develop and manufacture advanced semiconductors here in the United States that deliver the efficiency, reliability, and performance our systems require.