New Zealand start-up OpenStar claims breakthrough in nuclear fusion with innovative reactor design

ft.com November 12, 2024, 02:02 PM UTC

New Zealand start-up OpenStar claims to have achieved a milestone in nuclear fusion by creating and containing plasma at 300,000 degrees Celsius for 20 seconds. This was accomplished using an unconventional reactor design that levitates a magnet inside the plasma. OpenStar's approach differs from traditional tokamak designs, which use external magnets. The company believes its method could be faster to scale and commercialize. The start-up aims to raise $500 million to $1 billion for further development. OpenStar operates within New Zealand's nuclear safety laws, which prohibit nuclear fission. The company plans to seek additional funding in early 2025 and estimates that commercial nuclear fusion could be six years away.


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