Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
helionenergy.com
Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
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Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#2Some context - Helion was funded by YC early and more recent rounds were led by Sam Altman personally
https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/05/helion-series-e/?guccounte...
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#3So, 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 we can think of"?
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#4So, 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.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#5So at this stage, what market did Microsoft not yet enter via a billion dollar takeover or funding (I have not read the article, did not load for me)
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#6So, 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.
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.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#7So at this stage, what market did Microsoft not yet enter via a billion dollar takeover or funding (I have not read the article, did not load for me)
This isn't a take over. It's a purchasing agreement.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#8From [0]
‘ This is a binding agreement that has financial penalties if we can’t build a fusion system,” Helion founder and CEO David Kirtley tells The Verge. “We’ve committed to be able to build a system and sell it commercially to [Microsoft].”
Assuming the financial penalties are a significant fraction (i.e they are, say, greater than 5%) of the agreement value, I would interpret it as a more serious / confident commitment and expression of intent and viability, than just a contract that’s hope + way to support.
[0] https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/10/23717332/microsoft-nuclea...
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#9So, 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…
Don't a lot of companies invest/tie up with potentially upcoming companies/technologies?
Wasn't OpenAI one of those investments? That investment seems to have paid off.
Re: Helion’s fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft
#10Earlier 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.
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?