New Zealand Startup OpenStar Technologies Creates First Plasma to Make Clean Energy

OpenStar Technologies made a gas that is 300,000 degrees Celsius. This is a huge step because they are the only company in New Zealand trying to make power like the sun.
By Newsroom | Science, New Zealand |

A New Zealand-based company, OpenStar Technologies, has announced a significant achievement in its pursuit of nuclear fusion energy. The company claims to have successfully created "first plasma" in a prototype reactor, a crucial step toward harnessing the power that fuels the sun. This development places OpenStar among a growing global effort to commercialize fusion, which promises a nearly limitless source of clean energy.

Nuclear fusion start-up claims major advance in New Zealand trial - 1

Company's Journey and Reactor Design

OpenStar Technologies, established in 2021 in Wellington, New Zealand, is working on a novel approach to fusion energy. Unlike traditional tokamak designs that confine plasma within magnetic fields, OpenStar's method, referred to as a "Levitated Dipole," places a high-temperature superconducting magnet inside the plasma. This innovation is intended to simplify construction and enhance efficiency.

Nuclear fusion start-up claims major advance in New Zealand trial - 2

  • The company's founder, Dr. Ratu Mataira, who previously worked on superconducting magnets for his PhD at Victoria University of Wellington, conceptualized this alternative design.

  • The core component of their prototype is a half-tonne, doughnut-shaped magnet named "Junior," powered by a patented technology called the "flux pump."

  • This technology allows the magnet to operate while levitating without external power connections, according to company statements.

  • Darren Garnier, a former lead on MIT fusion experiments, has joined OpenStar, bringing expertise to the project.

Read More: 290-Million-Year-Old Fossil Vomit Found in Germany Shows Ancient Predator Diet

The next phase for OpenStar involves building a new prototype model named "Tahi," with the aim of having it operational in approximately two years.

Nuclear fusion start-up claims major advance in New Zealand trial - 3

Claimed Breakthrough: "First Plasma"

OpenStar announced it has achieved "first plasma," a term used in fusion research to describe the moment a device first generates and contains a superheated cloud of ionized gas, known as plasma. Plasma is essential for initiating a fusion reaction.

Nuclear fusion start-up claims major advance in New Zealand trial - 4

  • The company states its prototype successfully created plasma at temperatures around 300,000 degrees Celsius (540,000 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • While not the first in the world to achieve first plasma, OpenStar emphasizes that the successful trial of its levitated dipole prototype signifies a critical advancement and demonstrates the viability of their system.

  • This achievement is considered a necessary initial step toward the ultimate goal of producing net energy from fusion.

Collaboration and Global Context

OpenStar's work aligns with a broader global race to commercialize fusion energy, a process that involves colliding hydrogen isotopes to release vast amounts of energy, similar to the sun.

Read More: Amelia Kerr is New Captain for New Zealand Women's Cricket Team

  • The company has signed a collaboration agreement with the MIT Plasma and Fusion Centre to explore advanced physics models, specifically focusing on ion cyclotron resonance heating.

  • OpenStar is reportedly one of 45 companies globally working to commercialize fusion technology, making it the only one based in New Zealand.

  • Other entities, such as Commonwealth Fusion, are also pursuing fusion energy with their own timelines for potential grid power delivery in the early 2030s.

Understanding Fusion Energy

Fusion energy differs significantly from nuclear fission, the process used in current nuclear power plants.

  • Fusion involves merging light atomic nuclei, primarily isotopes of hydrogen, to create heavier ones (like helium), releasing substantial energy.

  • It is distinct from fission, which splits heavy atoms and is associated with long-lasting radioactive waste.

  • Fusion, if achieved successfully, promises abundant clean energy without the same waste concerns as fission.

Future Outlook and Significance

The successful creation of plasma by OpenStar is seen as a significant step, but the path to commercial fusion energy remains complex and lengthy.

Read More: US Government Removes DEI Programs from Science Agencies Causing Talent Loss Fears

  • The company's objective is to move beyond simulations and achieve incremental improvements through physical experimentation.

  • The potential impact of a successful fusion venture is described by company representatives as "history-making" and capable of transforming humanity for the better.

Sources

Read More: New Zealand Storms Cause Damage, Power Cuts, and Deaths

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the company OpenStar Technologies achieve in New Zealand?
The company successfully created its first plasma in a test machine. This means they made a super-hot cloud of gas which is the first step to making clean energy from nuclear fusion.
Q: How hot did the plasma get in the OpenStar Technologies experiment?
The gas reached a temperature of 300,000 degrees Celsius. This high heat is necessary to start the process that could one day provide power to homes without using oil or coal.
Q: What is the name of the magnet used by OpenStar Technologies to make the plasma?
The company used a half-tonne magnet named Junior that shaped like a doughnut. This magnet floats inside the machine to help control the hot gas more easily than older designs.
Q: Why is the OpenStar Technologies fusion method different from other reactors?
Most machines put the magnets on the outside, but OpenStar puts their magnet inside the hot gas. This new design is meant to be simpler to build and work better than other machines around the world.
Q: When will OpenStar Technologies build their next fusion prototype called Tahi?
The company plans to build a bigger and better model named Tahi over the next two years. They want to use what they learned from the Junior magnet to get closer to making real electricity for the public.