• Navigation for News Categories Inside OpenStar Technologies’ fusion reactor near Wellington.Photo:OpenStar Technologies A Wellington-based fusion energy company says funding is in place to build a new research facility with the potential to put Aotearoa at the forefront of clean energy development. • OpenStar Technologies has secured a $35 million commitment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to further their research towards creating aclean fusion power sourcecapable of being scaled up to commercial output. • The Fusion Energy process forces light atomic nuclei to merge - releasing large amounts of energy without the radioactive waste associated with nuclear energy. • OpenStar’s current prototype device - named “Junior” - achieved the crucial milestone of First Plasma - where the device creates and confines the super hot ionized gas needed to trigger the fusion reaction - within two years of development. • The company said Junior - which used a unique approach called the levitated dipole - was the only one of its kind developed with the intention of upscaling to commercial levels of energy production. • Ratu Mataira says by delivering ‘Junior’ proved New Zealand be a global fusion player.Photo:OpenStar Technologies The new facility would be used to house the company’s next-generation device named “Tahi”.
Article Summaries:
- OpenStar Technologies, a Wellington‑based fusion company, has secured a $35 million commitment from New Zealand’s Regional Infrastructure Fund to build a new research facility that will house its next‑generation fusion device, “Tahi.” The company’s prototype, “Junior,” achieved a First Plasma milestone using a levitated dipole approach, the only design aimed at commercial scalability. CEO Ratu Mataira said the funding will accelerate the development of a clean, low‑radioactive‑waste fusion source and strengthen New Zealand’s role in the global effort to produce limitless energy. The project underscores the government’s support for domestic clean‑energy research.
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