New Zealand Firm Aims for Fusion Power Breakthrough

Wellington-based OpenStar Technologies pursuing unique magnetic confinement

A New Zealand company is making strides in the global race to unlock the power of nuclear fusion. OpenStar Technologies, founded in 2021, is developing an innovative approach to creating clean, virtually limitless energy by harnessing the same process that powers the sun.

Fusion’s Promise and Challenges

The quest for nuclear fusion power centers on overcoming immense scientific and engineering hurdles. Unlike nuclear fission, which generates long-lived radioactive waste, fusion promises a cleaner energy future. Dr. **Ratu Mataira**, founder and CEO of OpenStar Technologies, believes his company’s strategy, informed by New Zealand’s scientific advancements, could be the key.

Nuclear fusion occurs when atomic nuclei combine under extreme pressure and temperature, releasing vast amounts of energy. On Earth, scientists aim to replicate this by heating hydrogen isotopes to hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, creating a plasma. This superheated gas is then confined using powerful magnetic fields or lasers.

Global Efforts and OpenStar’s Edge

International efforts like the massive ITER project in France, a collaboration involving 35 nations, are using magnetic confinement in a tokamak design. However, ITER has faced significant delays and cost overruns, with its operational start date pushed to 2034. Meanwhile, private companies are emerging rapidly, each with distinct technological strategies.

OpenStar Technologies distinguishes itself with a “levitated dipole” magnet design. In this system, a powerful magnet is suspended within a vacuum chamber, generating a robust magnetic field to contain the fusion plasma. The company is actively developing its technology, with a significant portion of its 60-strong team having ties to New Zealand’s Robinson Research Institute, a hub for superconducting magnet science where **Ratu Mataira** earned his PhD.

“Just like any company in any industry, we all have our kind of unique advantages and our pitch as to why we exist… But the interesting thing is that none of us have a product yet. And so, we’re really competing on our choice of technology and our ability to make that technology work,” **Ratu Mataira** stated.

Milestones and Future Goals

The company recently achieved a significant milestone, creating a helium plasma and sustaining it at 300,000 °C for 20 seconds using a supported magnet. Their next crucial step involves replicating this achievement with the magnet fully levitating. This progress places OpenStar Technologies firmly in the global competition, with **Ratu Mataira** expressing confidence in their ability to catch up to other leading concepts.

The development of fusion power is seen as critical for a sustainable energy future. According to the International Energy Agency, global investment in clean energy technologies, including advanced nuclear, reached a record $1.7 trillion in 2023, signaling a strong commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels (IEA, 2023).