ITER | The Future of Fusion Energy

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the largest and most advanced tokamak-based fusion reactor in the world, currently being built in France. This ambitious project is a collaboration among 35 nations, including the United States, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the European Union. ITER’s goal is to harness magnetic confinement fusion as a sustainable, carbon-free, and virtually limitless energy source. The main objective is to achieve “burning plasma,” a state where the fusion reaction can maintain itself by keeping enough heat within the plasma. While ITER won’t produce electricity, it represents a vital experimental step toward the development of future commercial fusion power plants.

Objectives of ITER

Investigate and demonstrate burning plasma (self-heating plasma)

• ITER is the first burning plasma device in the world.
• It aims to create self-sustaining fusion reactions where heat from fusion remains confined within the plasma.

Attain a fusion gain of more than 10 for a longer duration

• ITER aims to deliver 500 MW of thermal power, 10 times the input power (50 MW).
• The goal is to sustain the reaction for 400 to 600 seconds.

Test tritium breeding

• Develop tritium breeding modules to enable future reactors to become self-sufficient in tritium fuel.
• Demonstrate the safety characteristics of a fusion device
• Establish fusion as a low-risk, environmentally friendly energy source.
• Contribute to the technological advancement of fusion power plants
• Provide research insights for commercial fusion energy production.