ITER Completes World's Largest Pulsed Magnet System

The ITER project, an international collaboration involving over 30 countries, has completed the assembly of the world's largest and most powerful pulsed superconducting electromagnet system—a critical step toward demonstrating the viability of nuclear fusion as a clean, abundant energy source. The final component, the sixth module of the Central Solenoid magnet built in the US, was recently delivered and will serve as the electromagnetic heart of ITER's Tokamak reactor in France. When fully assembled, the system will weigh nearly 3,000 tons and generate magnetic fields strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier, creating an 'invisible cage' to confine plasma heated to 150 million degrees Celsius. This engineering feat relies on a combination of the Central Solenoid and six ring-shaped Poloidal Field magnets provided by partners including Russia, Europe, and China. ITER aims to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power from just 50 megawatts of input energy, representing a tenfold gain and a major milestone toward commercial fusion power. The project exemplifies both technical innovation and unprecedented international cooperation in the pursuit of carbon-free energy.