Korea Fusion Energy Institute Launches Design and Manufacturing of ITER Tritium Storage and Supply Vessels

The Korea Fusion Energy Institute (KFE) announced on August 12 at its headquarters in Daejeon that it has signed a contract with a consortium comprising Iljin Power and Aizen Core to undertake the design and manufacturing of the tritium storage and supply vessels for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

ITER is currently the world's largest fusion experimental device, being jointly constructed by seven parties—Korea, the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, Russia, and India—in Cadarache, southern France. Under the procurement agreement signed between KFE and the ITER Organization in March 2025, Korea will be responsible for the final design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of the Tritium Storage and Supply System (SDS).

The Tritium Storage and Supply System is a critical system in the ITER fuel cycle, primarily used for the safe storage of fusion fuels such as tritium and deuterium, as well as for managing fuel input/output and measuring inventory levels. As planned, KFE will collaborate with the consortium to design solid-state tritium storage vessels and manufacture a total of 28 units, including prototype components and full-scale products.

These storage vessels utilize depleted uranium to react with gaseous tritium and deuterium, safely storing fusion fuel in solid form; when fuel supply is needed, the fuel is converted back to gaseous form through heating. KFE plans to complete the final design review by 2027 and complete the relevant procurement deliveries to ITER by 2030.

Lee Hyun-gon, head of the ITER Korea Project, stated that close cooperation will be maintained with the participating companies to advance the procurement of necessary components in accordance with ITER quality standards and project schedule requirements.