Fusion startup Helion Energy is in talks on a plan to supply electricity to OpenAI. The discussions are at an early stage, but are drawing attention as competition to secure power for the AI industry intensifies.

On March 23, local time, major foreign media outlets including TechCrunch reported that the two sides are considering a plan for OpenAI to secure about 12.5 percent of Helion’s output. Specifically, the terms call for supplying 5 gigawatts of power by 2030 and 50 gigawatts by 2035. This is seen as an attempt to secure, over the long term, electricity needed to operate large data centres.

If a contract is reached, Helion would need to move to expand its facilities on a large scale. Helion targets output of about 50 megawatts per reactor, and on that basis would need to build about 800 reactors by 2030 and 7,200 by 2035. Helion is pushing ahead with developing a commercial fusion power plant and is assessed as being years ahead of rivals.

Its technical approach also differs. While most fusion companies use heat to generate electricity with steam turbines, Helion is developing a structure that converts fusion energy directly into electricity using electromagnetic fields.

Inside Helion’s reactor, fusion fuel is converted into plasma and then collides through magnetic fields, generating electricity through the resulting reaction. Recently, it raised plasma temperature to about 150 million degrees, approaching its commercialisation target of 200 million degrees.

Sam Altman (샘 알트먼) is also said to have played a major role in the talks. He is a key investor in Helion and previously served as chairman of the board, and is assessed as a central figure linking the AI and energy industries. Helion received about $425 million in investment last year from Altman, SoftBank and Lightspeed, among others.

Competition among big tech companies to secure electricity has already begun. Microsoft also signed a similar contract with Helion in 2023 and agreed to receive power starting in 2028. As AI models spread, data centre power demand is surging, prompting analysis that securing energy is becoming a source of competitiveness.