Helical Fusion Advances As Final Candidate For Japan’s METI Fusion Programme
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- Helical Fusion Co Ltd, a fusion energy company developing a Helical Stellarator for commercially viable fusion power, has been named a final candidate for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) programme supporting the demonstration of fusion power generation.
The programme aims to accelerate fusion power demonstration in the 2030s under Japan’s national energy and fusion strategies, with about 60 billion Japanese yen in government support expected over three years through 2028. The amount to be awarded to Helical Fusion will be determined following the formal grant decision. (100 Japanese yen = RM2.52)
The selection marks a key step for Helical Fusion’s Helix Program, its development roadmap toward fusion power generation in the 2030s. The company is pursuing a Helical Stellarator designed for steady-state operation, net electricity generation and maintainability — three requirements it identifies as critical to commercially viable fusion power.
Helical Fusion co-founder and chief executive officer, Takaya Taguchi in a statement said the company believes Japan has reached a critical stage in the global race to commercialise fusion energy and that developing the Helical Stellarator has an important role to play in making fusion power a reality.
The company was founded in 2021 as a spin-out based on research originating from Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), which has accumulated decades of stellarator research through its Large Helical Device (LHD).
Helical Fusion is translating this research foundation into engineering and hardware through the Helix Program, which includes the development of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets and an integrated blanket/divertor system.
These technologies will be integrated into Helix HARUKA, the company’s Integrated Demonstration Device, followed by Helix KANATA, its planned first power-generating fusion plant.
Manufacturing and construction of the HTS magnet demonstration for Helix HARUKA are already underway at Helical Fusion’s dedicated workspace on the NIFS campus in Gifu Prefecture, with more than 30 Japanese companies contributing to key components.
-- BERNAMA