Image credit: Openstar Technologies’ nuclear fusion reactor in Wellington, New Zealand.
A Wellington-based startup, OpenStar Technologies, is making strides in the pursuit of nuclear fusion, a clean and virtually limitless energy source. The company recently announced the successful creation of superheated plasma at temperatures reaching approximately 300,000 degrees Celsius (540,000 degrees Fahrenheit). This milestone represents a significant step forward in their goal to harness fusion energy, which involves fusing hydrogen atoms rather than splitting them, as is done in current nuclear fission processes.
OpenStar’s innovative approach features an “inside out” reactor design, wherein a powerful levitating magnet is housed within the plasma itself. This contrasts with traditional tokamak reactors, which require plasma to be contained within magnetic fields. The reactor, resembling a steel donut on legs, operates within a vacuum chamber and leverages principles derived from plasma behavior in planetary magnetic fields. The concept, initially proposed by physicist Akira Hasegawa in the 1980s, has been adapted by OpenStar to create a more efficient and scalable model.
The company claims that its reactor design allows for quicker engineering and troubleshooting compared to existing fusion technologies. OpenStar has raised approximately $12 million in funding and plans to develop two additional prototypes in the coming years to further refine its approach.
Fusion energy is often touted as the “holy grail” of clean energy due to its potential to produce vast quantities of power without the harmful emissions associated with fossil fuels or the long-term radioactive waste from fission reactors. Despite the excitement surrounding fusion, industry experts caution that significant scientific and engineering challenges remain. While some companies predict they could deliver fusion power to the grid in the next decade, others, including the UK Atomic Energy Authority, suggest commercialization may not occur until later in the century.
OpenStar Technologies is part of a growing cohort of fusion startups that are attracting substantial investment, with the Fusion Industry Association reporting over $7.1 billion in funding across the sector. As these companies push the boundaries of fusion research, the quest for clean energy continues to captivate both investors and the global community, offering hope in the fight against climate change.
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