Small Team, Big Breakthrough: OpenStar Technologies Ignites Hope for Fusion Energy Revolution

In the quiet expanse of Wellington, New Zealand, a small company named OpenStar Technologies embarked on a journey that many deemed impossible. Founded in 2021 by Ratu Mataira, a man with a vision as vast as the ocean that surrounded his homeland, the company set out to harness the power of nuclear fusion—a feat that had eluded scientists for decades.

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Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, involves the merging of hydrogen isotopes to form helium, releasing immense energy in the process. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms and leaves behind radioactive waste, fusion promises a cleaner, virtually limitless source of energy. However, achieving the conditions necessary for fusion on Earth requires temperatures exceeding those at the core of the sun, along with the means to contain such a reaction—a challenge that has stymied researchers worldwide.

Traditional fusion reactors, known as tokamaks, employ powerful external magnets to confine the superheated plasma within a doughnut-shaped chamber. These devices are colossal, complex, and costly, often requiring billions of dollars and decades of development. Yet, despite the investment, sustained fusion reactions have remained out of reach.

OpenStar, with a modest budget of less than $10 million, chose a different path. Drawing inspiration from experiments conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), they developed a reactor design that turned the conventional tokamak inside out. Instead of relying on external magnets, their approach involved a levitating high-temperature superconducting magnet placed within the plasma itself. This magnet, suspended in the center of the reaction chamber, created a magnetic field that confined the plasma without the need for the massive external structures characteristic of traditional designs.

The engineering challenges were formidable. The magnet had to operate in an environment where temperatures soared to hundreds of thousands of degrees Celsius—conditions that would obliterate ordinary materials. To achieve this, the team developed a magnet powered by a flux pump, allowing it to operate for up to 80 minutes before requiring a recharge. This innovation not only simplified the reactor’s design but also reduced its size and potential cost, making the prospect of scalable fusion energy more attainable.

In November 2024, after less than two years of development, OpenStar announced a significant milestone. They had successfully created and contained a plasma cloud at approximately 300,000 degrees Celsius for 20 seconds in their experimental reactor. While this temperature was still below the threshold required for sustained fusion, the achievement demonstrated the viability of their unconventional approach. It was a step forward, a glimmer of hope in the long quest for fusion energy.

The implications of this breakthrough were profound. Fusion energy, if realized, could provide a nearly inexhaustible source of clean power, aiding in the global effort to decarbonize the energy sector. Unlike fission reactors, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste, nor does it carry the same risks of catastrophic failure. For New Zealand, a nation committed to environmental sustainability, the development of fusion technology aligned with its goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy.

OpenStar’s journey was far from over. The path to commercial fusion energy remained fraught with technical challenges. Achieving the necessary plasma temperatures and sustaining the reaction for extended periods were hurdles yet to be overcome. However, the company’s innovative approach offered a promising alternative to traditional methods, potentially accelerating the timeline for fusion energy development.

As they looked to the future, OpenStar planned to raise additional funds, aiming for a series A investment round in early 2025. Their goal was to secure between $500 million and $1 billion to address the remaining technical risks and move closer to commercialization. With a dedicated team and a clear vision, they remained steadfast in their pursuit, driven by the belief that fusion energy could transform the world’s energy landscape.

In the broader context, OpenStar’s progress reflected a global resurgence of interest in fusion energy. Around the world, both private companies and government-funded projects were exploring various approaches to achieve fusion. From the massive ITER project in France to startups in the United States and Asia, the race to harness the power of the stars was intensifying. Each breakthrough, no matter how small, brought humanity closer to a future where clean, abundant energy was a reality.

For OpenStar, the journey began in a modest apartment in Wellington, driven by a vision and a determination to challenge the status quo. Their story was a testament to innovation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of a dream that had captivated scientists for generations. As they continued their work, the world watched with anticipation, hopeful that the dawn of fusion energy was on the horizon.