For decades, humanity has sought to harness the power of the stars, yet the primary obstacle remains the radioactive volatility inherent in traditional fusion reactions. Conventional deuterium-tritium synthesis inevitably produces a flux of fast neutrons, which degrade structural materials and generate long-lived radioactive waste. An alternative approach, leveraging the interaction between protons and boron nuclei, promises a virtually "clean" energy paradigm. The Chinese firm ENN is now transitioning from theoretical research to the large-scale construction of the Helong-2 facility—a project with the potential to fundamentally shift the global energy landscape.
The contemporary pursuit of nuclear fusion has long been centered on deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel. This is the primary vector for the international ITER project, which utilizes massive magnetic confinement systems to stabilize plasma. However, the fundamental flaw in this approach lies in neutron radiation: the fast neutrons generated during the reaction effectively bombard the reactor walls, leading to material degradation and necessitating incredibly complex shielding systems and the subsequent disposal of activated components.
The solution to this challenge lies in the transition to proton-boron fusion (p–¹¹B). In this reaction, a proton (a hydrogen nucleus) fuses with a boron-11 isotope, resulting in the creation of three alpha particles—helium nuclei. The primary advantage here is the near-total absence of neutron flux. This not only simplifies radiation safety protocols but also paves the way for direct energy conversion. Because the reaction products are charged, their kinetic energy can be converted directly into electricity via external magnetic fields, circumventing the conventional thermodynamic cycle of heating a coolant to drive turbines.
The technical implementation of such a process is significantly more challenging than classical fusion. Triggering a proton-boron reaction requires temperatures far exceeding those used in conventional tokamaks, as well as exceptional plasma confinement efficiency. These are precisely the challenges addressed by the new Helong-2 facility, currently under construction at the ENN research center in Langfang.
Architecturally, Helong-2 is designed as a "spherical" torus. This geometry allows for a more compact and efficient magnetic confinement system, which is critical for achieving ultra-high temperatures while maintaining the stability of the plasma column. The installation integrates more than ten sophisticated engineering systems aimed at solving the primary hurdle: ensuring a net energy gain from p–¹¹B plasma and studying low-collisionality regimes.
The Helong-2 project is not an isolated endeavor but the logical evolution of the company's hardware. It follows the deployment of the Xuanlong-50 and its upgraded successor, the Xuanlong-50U. The latter has already delivered impressive results: in April 2025, it achieved a plasma current at the mega-ampere level, validating the viability of this strategic direction.
The project's roadmap is aggressively ambitious. Equipment installation on-site is slated for completion by June 2027, with full-scale experiments planned by the end of that year. According to the roadmap, the first demonstration of actual energy production is expected by 2030, culminating in the creation of a full-scale demonstration fusion power plant by 2035.
The shift toward aneutronic fusion could be the "technological paradigm shift" that transforms nuclear fusion from a perpetual scientific experiment into a commercially viable and environmentally safe product. The elimination of costly radiation shielding and the increased longevity of materials make proton-boron reactors the ideal candidates for mass integration into the global energy grid.
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