OpenAI Seeks 5GW Fusion Power Deal With Helion Energy

TLDR

• OpenAI is in advanced talks to purchase electricity from Helion Energy under a long-term supply framework.
• The proposed agreement would grant OpenAI 12.5% of Helion’s projected power output.
• The allocation could reach 5 gigawatts by 2030 and expand to 50 gigawatts by 2035.
• Helion raised $425 million in January 2025, bringing its valuation to $5.425 billion post-money.
• Sam Altman stepped down as Helion’s board chair and recused himself from the OpenAI discussions.

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OpenAI is negotiating a large electricity purchase from Helion Energy to secure a long-term power supply. The proposed framework would allocate 12.5% of Helion’s projected output to OpenAI. The talks reflect a direct move toward energy procurement as computing demand accelerates.

OpenAI and Helion outline multi-gigawatt power framework

OpenAI is in advanced discussions to purchase electricity from Helion Energy, according to Axios. The proposed structure would grant OpenAI 12.5% of Helion’s future output. That share would equal 5 gigawatts by 2030 under current projections.

Axios reported that the allocation could increase to 50 gigawatts by 2035. A 5 gigawatt commitment would rank among the largest for a single customer. Meanwhile, 50 gigawatts would align with infrastructure planning at a national scale.

Sources told Axios that both parties continue to negotiate key terms. The agreement remains conditional, and several issues remain unresolved. These issues include the location of future power production sites.

Sam Altman previously invested heavily in Helion Energy. However, Axios reported that Altman stepped down as Helion’s board chair. He also recused himself from OpenAI’s deal discussions to address conflict concerns.

Helion believes it is nearing scientific breakeven in fusion development. Breakeven marks the point where fusion generates more energy than it consumes. Yet no private fusion company has achieved that milestone to date.

Funding history and prior fusion agreements shape talks

Helion Energy raised $425 million in a Series F round in January 2025. The funding valued the company at $5.425 billion post-money. Total funding has now surpassed $1 billion.

SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Mithril Capital, and Good Ventures Foundation backed the round. Sam Altman previously led Helion’s $500 million Series E round in 2021. These investments positioned Helion among the most capitalized private fusion firms.

In 2023, Helion signed the world’s first fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft. The agreement targets delivery of at least 50 megawatts by 2028. In July 2025, Helion secured land and began building its first fusion plant.

Google has pursued a separate path through Commonwealth Fusion Systems. In June 2025, Google agreed to purchase 200 megawatts from CFS’s ARC plant in Virginia. Both companies described the transaction as a major fusion milestone.

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