ITER The Future of Fusion Energy
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the world’s most advanced and largest tokamak-based fusion reactor, currently under construction in France. It is an international collaborative project involving 35 nations, including the United States, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the European Union. ITER aims to develop magnetic confinement fusion as a carbon-free, sustainable, and limitless energy source. Its primary goal is to achieve “burning plasma,” where the fusion reaction sustains itself by retaining sufficient heat within the plasma. Though ITER will not generate electricity, it will serve as a crucial experimental step toward future commercial fusion power plants.
Investigate and demonstrate burning plasma (self-heating plasma)
Attain a fusion gain of more than 10 for a longer duration
Test tritium breeding
Plasma parameters
Magnetic Confinement System
ITER-India is responsible for key ITER components, including,
Summary/Static | Details |
Why in the news? | ITER: The Future of Fusion Energy |
Type | Type Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactor (Tokamak) |
Location | France |
Participating Nations | 35 (including US, China, India, EU, Japan, Korea, Russia) |
Objective | Achieve sustainable fusion energy through burning plasma |
Key Goal | Fusion gain (Q > 10) for 400-600 seconds |
Plasma Temperature | 150 million °C (10 times hotter than the Sun’s core) |
Magnetic Confinement System | Central solenoid, poloidal magnets, toroidal-field coils, correction coils |
India’s Contribution | Cryostat, cooling system, heating systems, diagnostics, shielding materials |
India’s Contribution % | 9% of total project costs |
Significance | Future clean energy source, major breakthrough in burning plasma |
Challenges | Radiation risks, material durability, magnet quality issues, installation complexity |
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