☢️ Microsoft's contrarian nuclear bet

Howdy early birds! Today we’re talking about Microsoft’s latest sustainability bet.

Estimated read time: Less than 1 minute.

Microsoft signed a power purchasing agreement with fusion startup Helion for at least 50 megawatts of electricity beginning in 2028.

Why it matters: Fusion is often the butt of jokes, the supposed miracle technology that will save us from our reliance on fossil fuels that is always “just a decade away”, but Microsoft’s bet on Helion is an indicator that perhaps fusion is for real this time.

What makes Helion unique: Helion is claiming to have a device that can generate electricity from fusion by 2028. In contrast, the most advanced fusion company, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, claims to have their first installed prototype available in 2032.

Microsoft’s other sustainability bets: Microsoft aims to offset most of its carbon emissions through direct air capture, mostly through Climeworks. Climeworks takes carbon out of the atmosphere and sticks it in a hole in the ground, better known as ambient air capture.

The bottom line: Fusion is a crazy idea, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.