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Will Helion announce by June 30, 2027 that its Polaris machine has produced electricity from fusion?

Answer in 248 days

How this resolves: Resolves Yes if Helion states on helionenergy.com or in an official press release, published between October 15, 2026 and June 30, 2027, that Polaris recovered or produced electricity from fusion.

Closes Jun 29, 2027, 15:00 UTC (12:00 BRT)

Why it matters

Helion's Polaris prototype ran deuterium tritium fusion at 150 million degrees Celsius earlier in 2026. The company has since narrowed the goal for Polaris from net electricity to demonstrating electricity from fusion, which it has not yet announced.

Question provenance

How this question entered the record and how it will be resolved.

Resolution criteria
Resolves Yes if Helion states on helionenergy.com or in an official press release, published between October 15, 2026 and June 30, 2027, that Polaris recovered or produced electricity from fusion. Net electricity is not required. Resolves No otherwise.
Expected resolution
Jun 30, 2027

Key evidence

  • Axios Pro, September 8, 2026: Helion changed the Polaris goal from net electricity to demonstrating electricity from fusion
  • Helion Polaris page, checked October 15, 2026: Polaris is designed to demonstrate electricity production from fusion

Skeptical perspective

Helion has missed its own Polaris timelines before, and two 2026 papers by plasma physicists questioned whether its approach recovers enough energy.

What could change the outlook

  • Results from further Polaris test campaigns
  • Progress at the Orion plant for Microsoft
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How does this question resolve?

Resolves Yes if Helion states on helionenergy.com or in an official press release, published between October 15, 2026 and June 30, 2027, that Polaris recovered or produced electricity from fusion. Net electricity is not required. Resolves No otherwise.

When does this question close?

It closes to new calls on June 29, 2027.