U.S. zero-carbon fusion energy startup Helion raises $500 mln
U.S. zero-carbon fusion energy startup Helion raises $500 mln
By Jane Lanhee Lee
作者：李蘭熙(Jane Lanhee Lee)
Nov 5 (Reuters) - Helion Energy, a fusion energy tech startup, on Friday said it raised $500 million to build a net positive electrical generator, one that creates more power than it uses.
路透11月5日電-聚變能源技術初創公司Helion Energy週五表示，該公司籌集了5億美元，用於建造一臺淨正電發電機，這種發電機產生的電力比使用的要多.
The latest round values the company at $3 billion. Helion said $1.7 billion in follow on investments were committed if it can prove its technology works, which would be a major step toward making fusion technology a practical solution for generating power while emitting no carbon.
最新一輪融資對該公司的估值為30億美元。Helion表示，如果能夠證明其技術可行，將承諾17億美元的後續投資，這將是朝着使聚變技術成為發電的實用解決方案而同時不排放碳邁出的重要一步。
Fusion is the process that fires the sun as the nuclei of two atoms fuse under extreme heat. It creates enormous amounts of energy.
核聚變是兩個原子核在極端高温下融合時點燃太陽的過程。它產生了巨大的能量。
Helion’s newest prototype named Polaris will add a so-called regenerative energy technology to its fusion technology already developed to generate electricity, said Helion founder and CEO David Kirtley. The target date for demonstration is 2024.
Helion創始人兼首席執行官David Kirtley表示，Helion的最新原型名為北極星(Polaris)，將在其已經開發的發電聚變技術中添加一種所謂的再生能源技術。示威的目標日期是2024年。
The company broke ground in Everett, Washington in July to build the generator which will be the size of two shipping containers and create enough electricity to power 40,000 homes, said Kirtley. If it works, the $1.7 billion follow-on investments will be used to develop a commercial system, he said.
柯特利説，該公司7月份在華盛頓州埃弗雷特破土動工，建造了兩個海運集裝箱大小的發電機，產生的電力足以為4萬户家庭供電。他説，如果成功，17億美元的後續投資將用於開發一個商業系統。
“There's a real future for fusion to be part of this climate change and clean energy discussion,” said Kirtley, adding that other fusion energy companies were also pushing the timeline forward. He said there were over 40 private fusion companies today.
柯特利説：“聚變是氣候變化和清潔能源討論的一部分，這是一個真正的未來。”他補充説，其他聚變能源公司也在推進時間表。他説，今天有40多傢俬營核聚變公司。
Fusion has advantages over fission as the fuel is derived from water, not radioactive uranium or plutonium and doesn’t generate long-term radioactive waste.
聚變比裂變更有優勢，因為燃料來自水，而不是放射性鈾或鈈，而且不會產生長期的放射性廢物。
Sam Altman, a well-known investor and artificial intelligence researcher in Silicon Valley who led the round, said the long-term goal of Helion is not just to create clean energy but electricity that costs just one cent a kilowatt hour.
主導這輪融資的硅谷知名投資者和人工智能研究員薩姆·奧爾特曼(Sam Altman)表示，Helion的長期目標不僅是創造清潔能源，而且是創造每千瓦時只需1美分的電力。
“I hope we have the best idea, but what I really care about is that someone gets fusion built and globally deployed as quickly as possible,” said Altman.
奧特曼説：“我希望我們有最好的想法，但我真正關心的是，有人能儘快建造聚變，並在全球部署。”
(Reporting By Jane Lanhee Lee; Editing by David Gregorio)
(Jane Lanhee Lee報道；David Gregorio編輯)
((jane.lee@thomsonreuters.com; +1-415-344-3912; Reuters Messaging: jane.lee.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))
(jane.lee@thomsonreurs.com；+1-415-344-3912；路透社消息：jane.lee.thomsonreuters@reurs.net)