Anyone know if their machine config can scale to do hydrogen-boron fusion at a later stage?
Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
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Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#22So, assuming this pans out, would this require Helion to deliver the power to Microsoft off grid? I guess my question is 'what regulatory oversight is typically required in these sorts of situations?'
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#23So, Microsoft is buying power generated from a Fusion plant that 1. doesnt exist today, and 2. is not even proven to be possible in practical terms(I mean net gain of power from a fusion plant). This kind of PR notice only serves to confuse people who care and fuel the idea that fusion could very well be vapourware. Why not just say "Microsoft commits some money for us to research if Fusion will be possible in ways w…
Because it doesn't cost MS a bean until Helion have something working, but to Helion it means they can raise money for the actual construction of the first-production machine with the investors knowing someone will pay them for it if it works.
Electricity is a commodity. How could they possibly have a working product that they can’t sell? Just hook it up to the grid and there you go.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#24Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because it doesn't cost MS a bean until Helion have something working, but to Helion it means they can raise money for the actual construction of the first-production machine with the investors knowing someone will pay them for it if it works.
You're making the mistake of thinking the person you were replying to was actually wondering why they would do this - and not just jumping to their own cynical conclusions (which they did before "asking" their question) and cathartically posting them here.
There’s no room for non-cynicism, i.e. for idealism, when money is involved. And money is definitely involved in this.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
If they can't build a fusion system, aren't they sort of bust anyway?
They'd likely have some IP that could be of value to creditors.
They definitely have valuable IP already: whatever slide deck/demo reel/kompromat they used to pull this nonsense off is clearly worth its weight in unobtanium.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree with almost everything in your post, but the way you posted this also makes me recognize a feeling I had for too long, maybe it’s time to take a break and get a few deep breaths?
Yes, we all get frustrated when we see nonsense online, but usually the best thing to do is “block and move on”
Yes, I was cynical and frustrated from so much of PR fluff pieces that imply one thing only end up being smoke & mirrors. I did however genuinely ask “why not say it like it is?!”
Sorry, I do not subscribe to the idea that everybody should just ignore and move on when they see nonsense.. If nobody cares, then what is the point of our collective existence as a society? As an exaggerated example, if we all stopped caring whether a business claiming to do something can actually do it or not, doesn’t it incentivise every business to just lie and deceive as their way of business? Is that the world we should be looking forward to?
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#28So, assuming this pans out, would this require Helion to deliver the power to Microsoft off grid? I guess my question is 'what regulatory oversight is typically required in these sorts of situations?'
In the USA, it's likely the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Their site says "The Commission as a collegial body formulates policies, develops regulations governing nuclear reactor and nuclear material safety, issues orders to licensees, and adjudicates legal matters."
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/20/nuclear-fusion-will-not-be-r...
Depending on how early in development it is, it would likely be grid tied at some point because of the huge power needs to drive the power generating reactor before it gets going and the fuel generation reactor which is not energy producing.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
They'd likely have some IP that could be of value to creditors.
What’s an IP in this context please ?
Intellectual Property - so there might be trade secrets, patents, etc developed in the course of research. Even if the business goes bust, they might have learned valuable lessons.