Why Helium?

Helium is the the only element on the planet that is a completely non-renewable resource

  • Helium is a scarce and finite resource, with no commercially viable industrial process to replicate it
  • It is formed by the natural radioactive decay process of Uranium, and can be trapped underground if a halite or anhydrite cap exists above it
  • If helium is not trapped in this way, it escapes to the atmosphere and rises into space
  • Helium is the coldest element, with a boiling point of only 4° Kelvin, and has unique superfluid properties

Helium is essential to almost all modern and future technology

  • Helium has many applications that touch our daily lives – from the microchips in our cellphones to MRI machines, semiconductors, satellites, data centers, quantum research, the airbags in our cars, welding, and of course party balloons
  • It is a critical resource for the healthcare, technology, aerospace, and other industries, so fluctuations in price will not have a significant impact on demand

Helium is essential to all technology

Space and Satellite Applications

Space and military programs utilize the cooling properties of helium for launching rockets

Helium is used as a purge gas in hydrogen systems, and as a pressurizing agent for ground and flight fluid systems

Helium is used to clean the remaining liquid hydrogen and oxygen out of the fuel tanks because its an inert gas, which means it won’t react or combust with any oxygen remaining in the tank

NASA and Space-X are both major consumers of helium

Data Centers and Quantum Computing

Data centers use helium to encapsulate hard drives, which reduces friction and energy consumption

Google, Amazon, and Netflix are now major consumers of helium

Quantum computing systems use liquid helium in dilution refrigerators, providing temperatures as low as 2 mK

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machines

Helium is a liquid at extremely low temperatures, which allows it to cool magnets to a temperature that optimizes their properties

Magnets are used in MRI systems and other medical applications

MRI machines do not work without helium and there is no known substitute for helium use in MRI machines

The MRI business has never been better, with 8% CAGR expected from free standing ERs, hospitals and outpatient expansion

Semiconductor Manufacturing

Helium is a critical component of the electronics supply chain, and a key component in the semiconductor manufacturing process

Because it is an inert gas, it does not react with other elements, which prevents any unwanted reactions around the silicon

Helium has a high thermal conductivity, which helps to control the  temperature of silicon during the manufacturing process and is increasingly important as the dimensions of the circuitry on the silicon continue to shrink

Semiconductor complexity is accelerating, with ever smaller geometries  driving CAGR beyond 10%