Towards the practical application of fusion energy, Helical Fusion and Ando Hazama enter into a capital and business alliance, signing a basic agreement for the construction of the first power plant as "Helix Plan Official Partner"

Towards the achievement of "practical power generation" using fusion energy (nuclear fusion)[1] and the creation of an industry, Ando Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Kazuhiko Kunitani, hereinafter "Ando Hazama") has newly joined as an official partner of the "Helix Plan" led by Helical Fusion, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Takaya Taguchi, hereinafter "Helical Fusion"). In addition, a basic agreement has been signed by both companies regarding the construction of the first power plant, "Helix KANATA," scheduled to commence operation in the 2030s.

Fusion energy is a technology with the potential to create the next giant industry by transferring the source of energy from resources to technology, reproducing the sun's energy on Earth. The "helical method" being pursued by Helical Fusion is a method whose characteristics suitable for commercial power plants have been evaluated as a result of 70 years of research and development at national universities and research institutions*[2]. Helical Fusion aims to create a new giant industry by bringing together the industrial capabilities of Japan. In particular, the next decade or so is a crucial time for industrialization, as technological development that will form the foundation of future fusion power plants will accelerate. Therefore, in April 2026, an official partner system was launched with a clear objective to achieve the "Helix Plan" itself, which aims for the realization of commercial power plants in the 2030s.

Ando Hazama has been promoting construction projects for power-related facilities that contribute to a stable power supply. Japan has always faced challenges in power supply, such as soaring fuel costs, and fusion energy is expected to overcome these challenges and greatly contribute to a stable power supply. By jointly tackling the challenges in the construction field towards its realization, Ando Hazama decided to participate as an official partner with the aim of contributing to the realization of an affluent future through manufacturing.

With the slogan "Let's create another sun in Japan," Helical Fusion and Ando Hazama will create a fusion energy industry.

What is "Helix Plan Official Partner"?

This is a system that defines "Official Partners" as partner companies that proactively promote the "Helix Plan," which aims to achieve practical power generation through fusion energy, together with Helical Fusion.

Official partners will engage in technical and business alliances, as well as capital alliances exceeding a certain amount, and share the determination to challenge the realization of the fusion energy industry with creativity and perseverance.

Specifically, they will jointly advance the manufacturing and construction of the final demonstration device Helix HARUKA and the first power plant Helix KANATA, as well as related initiatives.

Launched in April 2026, Nichias Corporation, Hase Tora Boseki Co., Ltd., and Seno Kisen Co., Ltd. are participating as the first group.

About Ando Hazama

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Ando Hazama is a general construction company primarily engaged in civil engineering and construction work. With its technological capabilities cultivated over many years and advanced construction management, it promotes safe and high-quality projects. By creating new value, it aims to realize a sustainable society where people can live safely and comfortably, and to grow together with society.

Comments from Representatives

Kazuhiko Kunitani, President and Representative Director, Ando Corporation

I am deeply honored to be able to participate as an official partner of the "Helix Plan."

As a construction company whose mission is to develop social infrastructure, Ando Hazama has undertaken numerous power and energy construction projects to ensure a stable energy supply. We will contribute to the realization of fusion energy by leveraging the knowledge and technology we have cultivated so far.

We will build a cooperative relationship with Helical Fusion, create new value together, and work towards realizing an affluent future.

About Helical Fusion

Helical Fusion is a company aiming for the practical application of fusion energy. In 2021, it was spun off and established, utilizing research results from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS)[3], an inter-university research institute. The "helical method," a unique Japanese fusion reactor type, is evaluated as a method that is likely to possess the requirements for commercial power plants as a result of approximately 70 years of research and development at national universities and public research institutions. Leveraging this knowledge, we are advancing the "Helix Program" towards the world's first practical application of fusion energy.

Comments from Representatives

Takaya Taguchi, CEO and Representative Director, Helical Fusion, Inc.

The goal of the Helix Plan is not only to realize a practical power plant but also to bring energy that will support civilization for a long time to human society.

The members of Ando Hazama have supported life and industry in Japan and around the world for over 100 years. I am confident that by joining forces with this wonderful team, we can surely achieve the development of society through fusion energy. I am truly grateful to be able to walk alongside the members of Ando Hazama on this grand challenge that will significantly move human history.

As a first step, we will work hand in hand with Ando Hazama on the construction of the final demonstration device "Helix HARUKA" and the first power plant "Helix KANATA."

About the Helix Plan

What is the Helix Plan?

The helical fusion reactor is a method whose characteristics suitable for commercial power plants have been evaluated as a result of 70 years of research and development at national universities and research institutions*[4]. Helical Fusion is one of the few private companies utilizing this knowledge to achieve practical application of fusion energy, and is advancing the "Helix Program" to achieve practical power generation with a helical fusion reactor. In May 2023, a peer-reviewed paper summarizing the design of the first power plant was published[5].

The Helix Plan aims to complete individual demonstrations of the two major development elements, "high-temperature superconducting magnets" and "blanket and divertor," by the end of the 2020s, and to achieve integrated demonstration with the final demonstration device "Helix HARUKA" and the world's first practical power generation with the first power plant "Helix KANATA" by the end of the 2030s.

Currently, manufacturing and construction are underway for the demonstration of high-temperature superconducting magnets using the final demonstration device "Helix HARUKA" in a dedicated space for Helical Fusion within the premises of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) (Toki City, Gifu Prefecture). This is a pioneering example among companies developing fusion devices, as it has reached concrete construction based on detailed design. The development of important components for Helix HARUKA is steadily progressing with the cooperation of domestic companies.

Helix Plan Timeline

Overview of Helix HARUKA and Helix KANATA

Image of Helix HARUKA under construction (in the dedicated space for the HF joint research group within the premises of the National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki City, Gifu Prefecture)

Three Requirements for "Practical Power Generation"

To use a fusion reactor as a commercial power plant, it is necessary to not only initiate a fusion reaction but also to satisfy all "three requirements for a commercial fusion reactor": 1 steady-state operation (stability that allows for 24/7 operation), 2 net power generation (ability to supply electricity to the outside of the plant), and 3 maintainability (possibility of maintenance). The Helix Plan proceeds with development based on a design that works backward from the realization of these three requirements.

Three Requirements for a Commercial Fusion Reactor to Achieve "Practical Power Generation"

Partnering Events to be Held Nationwide

To advance the Helix Plan as quickly and reliably as possible and to establish a fusion energy industry in Japan, Helical Fusion will hold "Partnering Events" in various locations across the country to share the goals of the Helix Plan and the image of participation. *Operational cooperation: Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.

<Upcoming Schedule> *Subject to change.

Tohoku (Miyagi: Sendai) July

Kyushu (Fukuoka: Kokura) August

Chushikoku (Okayama: Okayama) September

Hokuriku (Ishikawa: Kanazawa) October

Image of Partners in the Helix Plan

Background

Significance of Fusion Energy Development

With the world population projected to increase by approximately 1.7 billion by 2050[6], and with the rapid global increase in electricity demand, partly due to the spread of generative AI, it is difficult to meet this demand with existing power generation methods alone. Fusion energy, which generates electricity with high efficiency and no CO2 emissions based on the same principle as the sun's radiance, and uses fuel that can be abundantly extracted from seawater, is expected to be a technology that fundamentally solves global energy challenges. While the construction of fusion plants and the electricity market are estimated to grow to hundreds of trillions of yen globally by 2050[7], creating a giant industry in which Japan can lead the world, similar to the automotive industry, international development competition is also intensifying.

In Japan, the revision of the "Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy" by the Cabinet Office in June 2025 presents a roadmap aiming for demonstration power generation in the 2030s. In addition, fusion energy (nuclear fusion) has been listed as one of the "17 Fields for Priority Investment." In November of the same year, the government allocated over 100 billion yen in its budget, established a specialized department, and created a subsidy program of approximately 60 billion yen for "Fusion Energy Power Generation Demonstration Promotion Projects" to support social implementation, indicating concrete government support. The movement towards industrialization, involving both the public and private sectors, is accelerating from the stage of academic research.

【Contact Information for this Matter】 Helical Fusion, Inc. Communication Design Office E-mail: [email protected]

Ando Corporation Corporate Communications Department Public Relations Group Kawai E-mail: [email protected]

[1] Energy obtained by reproducing the same principle as the sun's radiance on Earth. It is expected to be a technology that fundamentally solves global energy challenges, as it has no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, uses fuel that can be abundantly extracted from seawater and the like, and is inherently safe as runaway reactions are unlikely.

[2] Because it has prospects for satisfying all "three requirements for a commercial fusion reactor": 1 steady-state operation (stability that allows for 24/7 operation), 2 net power generation (ability to supply electricity to the outside of the plant), and 3 maintainability (possibility of maintenance).

[3] NIFS is a public research institution that leads helical (stellarator) fusion research, having accumulated knowledge on plasma sustainment for 3,268 seconds (approximately 54 minutes), achieving plasma temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, and stable plasma control essential for such operations using the "Large Helical Device (LHD)," one of the world's leading large plasma experimental devices.

[4] Because it has prospects for satisfying all "three requirements for a commercial fusion reactor": 1 steady-state operation (stability that allows for 24/7 operation), 2 net power generation (ability to supply electricity to the outside of the plant), and 3 maintainability (possibility of maintenance).

[5] Development of steady-state reactor by Helical Fusion – J. Miyazawa et al., Physics of Plasmas.

https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/30/5/050601/2891604/Development-of-steady-state-fusion-reactor-by

[6] International Energy Agency (IEA) Annual Report "World Energy Outlook 2023"

[7] FusionX/Helixos report Global Fusion Market Analysis: Electricity, Supply Chain & Construction (https://fusionxinvest.com/data-analysis/analysis/)