A Wellington fusion energy start-up’s getting a major boost, with fresh funding to build a next generation research facility.

The Government will lend up to $35 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to OpenStar Technologies to help develop its nuclear fusion machine, known as Tahi.

Fusion is the process which powers the sun, and the company's hoping to create a fusion power source that can be scaled up for commercial use.

OpenStar CEO Ratu Mataira says Tahi is of a scale that they'll be able to show the world it's as valid as other approaches. 

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