Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ Brandon Sorbom and Helion’s David Kirtley on bringing fusion to the grid at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Fusion energy is on track to begin supplying electricity to the grid within four years.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) and Helion, two leading companies in the pursuit of commercial fusion energy, are set to discuss their progress and future plans at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. CFS, which aims to build its first commercial power plant, ARC, is currently developing a demonstration machine called SPARC. The company recently became the first fusion entity to apply to PJM Interconnection, a major U.S. wholesale electricity market, and has raised $4 billion to date. Helion is developing its Orion power plant, a 50-megawatt facility designed to supply electricity to Microsoft as early as 2028. Helion's Polaris prototype achieved plasma temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius, and the company secured $500 million in Series G funding. Both companies are moving from scientific breakthroughs towards operational power generation.

The discussion at Disrupt 2026 signifies a critical juncture where fusion power is transitioning from theoretical research and engineering prototypes to tangible commercial deployment. CFS's application to PJM Interconnection and Helion's agreement with Microsoft highlight concrete steps toward grid integration and market readiness, moving fusion beyond the realm of scientific curiosity into a potential energy utility. These developments signal increased investor confidence and a maturing market, with both companies raising substantial funds and setting aggressive timelines.

The fusion industry's path to commercialization is now marked by distinct milestones and market-facing objectives. CFS's approach via SPARC and ARC, and Helion's Polaris and Orion, represent different but converging strategies to solve the engineering challenges of sustained fusion reactions and power generation. The insights shared by their leaders will offer founders, investors, and policymakers a clearer understanding of the remaining scientific, regulatory, and economic hurdles to large-scale fusion deployment.