Microsoft signs deal with nuclear fusion company to provide electricity
Jean-Luc Ichard
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) signed a deal on Wednesday with Helion Energy, a nuclear fusion company based in the U.S., to provide the tech giant with electricity from the company's first fusion power plant.
The plant is expected to come online by 2028 and will have a power generation target of roughly 50 megawatts after a one-year ramp up period. One megawatt can supply the power needs of roughly 1,000 homes on any given day. 
"We are optimistic that fusion energy can be an important technology to help the world transition to clean energy," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft in a statement. "Helionâs announcement supports our own long term clean energy goals and will advance the market to establish a new, efficient method for bringing more clean energy to the grid, faster."
Microsoft (MSFT) shares rose slightly more than 1% in mid-day trading.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft (MSFT) already gets a significant portion of its power from clean energy, including solar and wind. However, Wednesday's announcement did not disclose exact timing or financial details on when the energy from nuclear fusion would be provided.
The Satya Nadella-led Microsoft (MSFT) has said previously it hopes to use renewable energy for 100% of its operations by 2025.
The agreement between Microsoft (MSFT) and privately-held Helion Energy comes months after the U.S. Department of Energy announced that scientists created a fusion reaction that resulted in net energy, a major milestone to develop a technology to generate unlimited, clean and cheap power.
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