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ITER Tokamak Advances Assembly in France, Fusion Experiment Targets 150 Million Degree Celsius Plasma

The ITER tokamak being assembled in southern France is one of the most closely watched large-scale experimental devices in global nuclear fusion research. The machine weighs approximately 23,000 tonnes in total and adopts a donut-shaped toroidal structure, using strong magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasma, with the goal of replicating on Earth the conditions for fusion reactions that occur inside stars. Its plasma volume is approximately 830 cubic meters, far exceeding previous tokamak devices, and it is therefore expected to validate the key physics and engineering technologies required for future commercial fusion reactors. ITER adopts the toroidal tokamak structure because charged particles can move along toroidal paths under strong magnetic fields, thereby minimizing direct contact with the device's inner walls...

2026-08-14

Fusion for Energy completes full delivery of ITER cryopump distribution system

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will operate in an ultra-high vacuum environment. To prevent contamination inside the device, a set of cryopumps supplied by Europe will extract gas particles and alternate operation before and after plasma discharges, maintaining the vacuum vessel pressure at approximately one millionth of Earth's atmospheric pressure. The core of cryopump operation lies in the extremely low-temperature environment. Its internal panels will be cooled to 4 K, approximately minus 269 degrees Celsius, close to absolute zero, to capture gas particles; they are then warmed to release and expel the particles. To precisely control this process, Europe is also supplying ITER with the Front-End Cryopump Distribution System (FECDS), which delivers helium at specific doses and temperatures to the cryopumps...

2026-08-12

Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center Advances Material Testing Research for Future Reactors

On August 11, the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented its progress in research on structural materials for advanced reactors. Yerzhan Ernatuly Sapataev, head of the Radiation Materials Science Laboratory at the center's Institute of Atomic Energy, stated that the development of next-generation reactors and fusion technologies has imposed higher requirements on structural materials in terms of high-temperature resistance, radiation tolerance, and corrosion resistance, and that material reliability will directly determine the safety and service life of future nuclear energy systems. Materials inside future reactors typically need to...

2026-08-12

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...

2026-08-12

MIT Research Proposes Framework for Assessing Economic Viability of Fusion Power Plants

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have recently proposed an assessment framework aimed at addressing the core question that fusion energy must confront in transitioning from scientific feasibility to commercial profitability: how can a fusion power plant achieve economic viability in the energy market? The related open-access paper, titled "Criteria for the Economic Viability of Fusion Power Plants," has been published online in the Journal of Fusion Energy. The paper is authored by Dennis Whyte, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT, and Andrew W. Lo, Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, with contributions from researchers at Rutherford Energy Ventures and the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

2026-08-10

Rising Seawater Temperatures Prompt New Nuclear Safety Rules: TEPCO Sets Temporary Shutdown Criteria for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced on August 7 that it has established a set of self-determined criteria for evaluating whether to temporarily halt nuclear reactor operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, in response to rising seawater temperatures in the surrounding area. These criteria are not mandatory requirements directly imposed by external regulatory authorities, but rather proactive measures voluntarily implemented by TEPCO based on safe operational needs. According to the conditions announced by TEPCO, the company will consider temporarily shutting down the relevant nuclear facilities when the 7-day average seawater temperature in the waters surrounding the plant exceeds 31 degrees Celsius, when water temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius are observed, or when water temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius persist for 12 hours. These numerical thresholds indicate that seawater temperature has been incorporated as a key variable in nuclear power plant operational risk management.

2026-08-08

ITER Test Blanket Modules Enter Key Phase of Preliminary Design Review

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Test Blanket Module (TBM) project is advancing a key technology validation effort in the field of fusion energy. The Test Blanket Modules address the breeding blanket requirements of future fusion power plants, aiming to validate tritium breeding concepts under reactor operating conditions, providing a technical foundation for fusion fuel cycle self-sufficiency. Group photo at the European TBM Preliminary Design Review meeting held at ITER Headquarters. F4E-ITER Organization In a fusion reaction, deuterium and tritium fuse and release high-energy neutrons. When high-energy neutrons enter a lithium-containing blanket, they can interact with lithium to produce new tritium, which then re-enters the fuel cycle. Due to the scarcity of natural tritium resources, the breeding blanket is...

2026-08-07

Approximately 13,000 liters of water found in Unit 3 of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant; Chubu Electric continues investigation into data falsification

Japan's Chubu Electric Power announced on August 4 that water accumulation totaling approximately 13,000 liters was found in the turbine building and related areas of Unit 3 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant. The company stated that the accumulated water contains no radioactive substances and is currently investigating the specific cause. According to Chubu Electric Power, at around 11:00 a.m. on the 4th, a worker from a partner company discovered approximately 5 liters of water in a passageway on the northwest side of the first basement floor of the turbine building adjacent to the reactor building of Unit 3. Subsequently, company personnel continued on-site inspections and confirmed at around 3:00 p.m. the same day that approximately 13,000...

2026-08-05

Progress and Cost Performance Management of the ITER Project Enhancement

The ITER Organization reported on July 29 that, regarding the construction progress and cost control of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the project team has established a more detailed monthly tracking mechanism, and regularly reports key performance indicators, updated estimates at completion, and milestone trend analyses to the ITER Council. The ITER project is large in scale with complex interfaces; management efforts involve not only overall schedule and budget but also continuous assessment of thousands of activities including design, manufacturing, component installation, commissioning, and operational readiness. For tasks on the critical path, even delays of a few weeks can have cascading effects on multiple construction work packages. To identify...

2026-08-03

QST completes first gyrotron 170 GHz microwave output test at ITER site

The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) of Japan announced on July 31 that it has completed the integration and operational testing of the first gyrotron system at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site in southern France, successfully producing 170 GHz microwave output. This system is used for ITER plasma generation and heating, and is one of the key devices for ITER's plan to commence operations in 2034. The core equipment of this test is the gyrotron, a high-power microwave source. Gyrotron operation requires the coordinated work of peripheral equipment such as power supplies, superconducting coils, and cooling systems. QST previously completed performance testing of eight ITER gyrotron systems at the gyrotron test facility of the Naka Fusion Institute in Japan, and transported components including gyrotrons, superconducting coils, and quasi-optical matching units to the ITER site. Over the past three years, QST has advanced system installation, commissioning, and operational preparation at the site.

2026-07-31

ITER Organization Director-General Attends Aix Economic Forum to Discuss Complexity Management of Pioneering Strongly-Coupled Mega-Projects

From July 2 to 4, the Aix Economic Forum (Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix) was held in Provence, France, under the annual theme "Navigating a World of Uncertainty." Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization, was invited to attend the forum, where he presented the ITER Project and its pivotal role in addressing future energy challenges. His remarks centered on two core themes—climate change and the energy crisis—covering topics such as mega-project management experience and the development of the global fusion industry. As the world's first fusion verification experimental reactor, ITER's core mission is to validate the engineering feasibility of fusion power generation, paving the way for subsequent demonstration fusion power plants...

2026-07-15

Xinhua Exclusive Interview | China Makes Significant Contributions to the "Artificial Sun" Project — Interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization

On July 26, 2027, Xinhua News Agency published an exclusive interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, on China's significant contributions to the "Artificial Sun" project and its role in accelerating global fusion research. Bécoulet noted that China plays a fundamental role in supplying ITER components (superconducting technology, cables, magnet manufacturing, cryostats, etc.), and that the tokamak installation work undertaken by the Chinese consortium "exceeded expectations in terms of time and cost." He also stated that facilities such as EAST, HL-3, and BEST provide ITER with experimental predictions, component testing, and technical twin validation. He believes that through sustained investment and international cooperation, China has begun to play a leading role in the global fusion field.

2026-07-27

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Meets ITER Organization Director-General

Starting at 4:50 p.m. on July 29, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, who was visiting Japan. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes. (Photo source: Japan Cabinet Public Affairs Office) Hayashi welcomed Barabaschi's visit to Japan. He stated that fusion energy has been listed as one of the 17 strategic areas in Japan's growth strategy. Japan looks forward to progress in the ITER project and believes it will play a significant role in advancing the realization of fusion energy and enhancing energy security. Hayashi...

2026-07-30

Hoisting in Place! Global Largest "Artificial Sun" Core Module Installation Progress Exceeds Two-Thirds

On July 28, local time in France, the sixth vacuum vessel module of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) tokamak device—Sector Module 1—successfully completed its overall hoisting and precise positioning. Thus, the assembly progress of ITER vacuum vessel modules has exceeded two-thirds. As the general assembly enters a new phase of multi-disciplinary cross-construction, the China Nuclear Engineering Consortium led the coordination of the international team to successfully complete this critical hoisting, laying a solid foundation for subsequent assembly tasks, while fully demonstrating the cross-cultural project management and overall coordination capabilities of the Chinese team in international mega-science projects. The vacuum vessel is a core component of the tokamak device, consisting of nine large sector modules installed and connected sequentially,...

2026-07-30

Chinese Delegation Attends 2026 Annual Meeting on Implementation of Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Ministry of Science and Technology and ITER Organization

On July 7-8, 2026, the 2026 Annual Meeting on Implementation of the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the ITER Organization was held at the ITER Organization Headquarters. Deputy Director Yan Xiaohong of the Nuclear Fusion Center led the Chinese delegation to the meeting. The Chinese delegation conducted in-depth exchanges with senior ITER management and relevant department heads on topics including project progress, personnel dispatch, public outreach and science education, and international schools. During the meeting, both sides agreed that the ITER Project has made significant progress since the 2024 baseline update. ITER Deputy Director-General Kamada highly commended the outstanding performance of the Chinese consortium in the assembly of the tokamak, noting that the installation efficiency of individual sectors has more than tripled, playing a core role in advancing the project's critical path. China expressed its commitment to further deepening comprehensive cooperation with the ITER Organization and contributing Chinese strength to the successful implementation of the ITER Project.

2026-07-15