New Zealand Start-Up OpenStar Advances Nuclear Fusion Technology

In a significant milestone for nuclear fusion, OpenStar Technologies successfully levitated a half-tonne magnet within a vacuum chamber in Wellington, New Zealand. On October 31, 2024, the local start-up showcased its innovative approach to fusion energy in front of an audience that included Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. The experiment demonstrated that the company is progressing towards achieving sustained nuclear fusion, a feat that could revolutionize energy production.

The experiment involved heating gas to over a million degrees Celsius within a 5-meter-wide chamber, which is a crucial step in the quest for practical fusion energy. While the reactor does not yet generate more power than it consumes, successfully levitating the superconductor magnet indicates that OpenStar’s design is feasible. Chief Executive Officer Ratu Mataira expressed confidence in the simplicity of their reactor design, believing it offers a competitive edge in the global race to harness fusion energy.

OpenStar’s prototype, named Junior, has a development cost of less than NZ$10 million (approximately $6 million). Mataira, who holds a PhD in applied superconductivity, stated, “No one yet has a working fusion system that can produce economic electricity.” He emphasized that starting with a simpler system that can be scaled quickly and affordably is a promising strategy.

The competition in the nuclear fusion sector is fierce, with nearly $10 billion in funding from notable figures like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Approximately 50 firms worldwide are racing to achieve the first practical fusion reactor, particularly as global electricity demand rises, fueled by advancements in technology and a pressing need for clean energy sources. New Zealand is particularly invested in this initiative, already generating over 80% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower.

Prime Minister Luxon remarked on the potential of fusion energy, stating, “Fusion energy has the potential to revolutionise the energy sector by providing a limitless source of safe, clean energy.” He noted that the recent demonstration brought the prospect of fusion closer to reality.

The timeline for achieving operational fusion energy remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 10 to 30 years. Other countries have reported advances, such as a 2022 breakthrough in California where scientists generated more energy from a fusion reaction than they consumed. OpenStar has outlined that several generations of prototypes will be necessary before a model capable of generating sufficient energy for urban areas can be developed.

Mataira’s journey began in 2021 during a dinner conversation with a friend from Tokyo who was studying fusion. This discussion sparked his interest in a novel approach to fusion energy involving a levitated dipole reactor, a concept first proposed by Japanese physicist Akira Hasegawa in 1987. The levitated dipole design differs from conventional tokamak reactors by placing a high-temperature superconducting magnet inside the plasma, aiming for greater stability and efficiency.

After securing NZ$10 million in seed financing in 2022, OpenStar commenced the development of Junior. On October 31, 2024, the company achieved plasma confinement, marking a crucial step toward scaling their technology for fusion energy production. Mataira described the dipole reactor as easier to develop than traditional models, likening it to managing a fire pit rather than a complex jet engine.

OpenStar currently employs around 80 scientists and engineers, including Darren Garnier, who previously led early fusion experiments at MIT. Garnier expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Fusion is one of the hardest things that humankind will have ever attempted. But it’s worth doing because of the transformative effect.”

Looking ahead, OpenStar plans to develop a second prototype, named Tahi, expected to be operational within two years. A third-generation model, Maui, is targeted to generate revenue and create neutrons within five years. Ultimately, the fourth model, Tama Nui, aims to produce between 50 to 200 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power a small city or large industrial operation.

Despite skepticism surrounding the feasibility of levitated dipoles, Mataira remains optimistic. He draws inspiration from New Zealand-born scientist Ernest Rutherford, known as the father of nuclear physics for splitting the atom in 1917. “This story starts with Rutherford and it’s going to end in New Zealand,” Mataira asserted. “We are the ones who are going to finish this race.”

As OpenStar continues to push the boundaries of nuclear fusion, the world watches closely, hoping for advancements that could lead to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.