“World’s Heaviest Fusion Upgrade Yet”: Inside the Race to Activate This 3,000-Ton Nuclear Magnet Behemoth in France

The quest for sustainable and limitless energy has driven scientists and engineers to explore nuclear fusion, a process that powers the sun. In a bold international collaboration, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project is set to revolutionize energy production by demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. Recently, ITER achieved a significant milestone: completing all components necessary for its pulsed superconducting electromagnet system. This system, the largest and most powerful of its kind, forms the “electromagnetic heart” of ITER’s fusion reactor, promising an unprecedented leap toward clean energy. But what makes this project so groundbreaking?

Critical Role in Fusion Process

The heart of ITER’s fusion process lies in its sophisticated magnet system, which plays a critical role in initiating and maintaining the reaction. Built and rigorously tested in the United States, the Central Solenoid is the final component of this complex system. Once fully assembled in Southern France, the system will weigh a staggering 6,600,000 pounds. This massive structure will function in concert with six ring-shaped Poloidal Field magnets, contributed by Russia, Europe, and China.

These superconducting magnets are essential for confining and controlling the plasma within the Tokamak, a donut-shaped device designed to facilitate fusion. Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of ITER, highlighted the project’s significance, emphasizing its unique technical complexity and the international cooperation that sustains it. This achievement exemplifies how nations can unite to tackle existential challenges such as climate change and energy security, proving that geopolitical differences can be overcome in pursuit of common goals.

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The “Heart” Will Function in Systematic Manner

The fusion process within ITER begins with the injection of hydrogen fuel into the Tokamak chamber. This fuel, composed of deuterium and tritium gas, is transformed into a plasma through an electrical current generated by the powerful magnet system. The resulting ionized plasma is confined and shaped by intense magnetic fields, preventing it from touching the reactor’s walls.

External heating systems then raise the plasma’s temperature to an astonishing 150 million degrees Celsius—ten times hotter than the sun’s core. At such temperatures, the atomic nuclei of plasma particles fuse, releasing massive amounts of heat energy. ITER is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power by achieving a tenfold energy gain, producing 500 megawatts of fusion power from just 50 megawatts of input heating power. At this level of efficiency, the reaction becomes largely self-sustaining, transforming into a “burning plasma.”

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A Global Effort Toward Fusion Energy

ITER represents an unparalleled global collaboration involving more than 30 countries, each contributing vital components to the project. The United States constructed the Central Solenoid, while Russia, Europe, and China delivered various Poloidal Field magnets and superconducting materials. Europe’s contribution also includes several Toroidal Field coils and a significant part of the vacuum vessel.

China’s role extends to providing superconducting materials and Correction Coils, while Japan manufactures key components for the Central Solenoid and several Toroidal Field magnets. Korea contributes vacuum vessel sectors and thermal shields, and India has fabricated the enormous Cryostat, which houses the ITER Tokamak. This international partnership underscores the project’s importance and the collective commitment to advancing fusion energy.

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Ahead of Schedule

ITER’s progress has been remarkable, with the project achieving 100 percent of its construction targets in 2024. As of April 2025, the first vacuum vessel sector module was successfully inserted into the Tokamak Pit, marking the start of the reactor’s assembly phase and ahead of schedule. Completing the Central Solenoid and the entire pulsed superconducting electromagnet system represents a major leap forward for ITER and the future of clean energy.

The ITER Project is not just a technical achievement; it embodies hope for a sustainable energy future. As Barabaschi concluded, ITER demonstrates that a peaceful path forward is possible. With these advancements, we are one step closer to harnessing the power of the stars, but the journey raises an intriguing question: How will the success of ITER reshape our global energy landscape and our approach to collaborative scientific endeavors?

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