Instead of our usual morning meeting, this week we were treated to a visit and tour of one of Wellington's world leading innovative companies - Open Star.
There was a great turnout to the club visit to OpenStart Technologies, where club member Rod Badcock is the Chief Technology Officer. The company site, just off Ngauranga George just looks like any other business park, but in it is one of the world’s best chances for fusion energy.
Unlike nuclear energy, which uses splitting atoms in radioactive uranium to generate heat to power a steam turbine, fusion energy uses a magnetic field to force hydrogen atoms together to form helium. This process then produces the heat for the steam turbine. So, no radioactive waste, and a system that can be turned on and off simply.
Club members were shown round the facility, including the 13 tonne flying saucer, which held the plasma chamber, and the machine room where 20% of the components were made. The company has helped support other businesses in New Zealand as well, with the plasma chamber space ship being built in Palmerston North by a company that used to supply the diary industry, but was now branching out world-wide into the supply of vacuum chambers.
The visit concluded with a video showing the plasma chamber being lowered through the roof of the building, and then club members enjoyed drinks and sandwiches.