Thea Energy reveals Helios fusion plant design for 390 megawatt output

Thea Energy, a New Jersey-based company, has revealed the preconceptual design of Helios, a stellarator-based nuclear fusion power plant aimed at producing 390 megawatts of electricity. Unlike most fusion efforts that focus on tokamak reactors, Helios uses a stellarator design featuring 12 large magnets of four different shapes and 324 smaller magnets to confine and fine-tune plasma. Thea Energy’s innovation lies in employing smaller, identical magnets controlled by sophisticated software and artificial intelligence (AI) to manage plasma confinement and compensate for manufacturing imperfections, avoiding the need for ultra-precise magnet fabrication. Helios is designed to generate 1.1 gigawatts of heat, converted to electricity via steam turbines, with a capacity factor of 88 percent due to an 84-day maintenance cycle every two years and a first wall designed for a 15-year service life. The company aims to reduce energy costs from $150 to $60 per megawatt-hour as more reactors