The final component, the sixth module of the Central Solenoid, was built and tested in the United States. When assembled at the ITER site, this magnet, capable of lifting an aircraft carrier, will be the system’s most powerful. It will work alongside six ring-shaped Poloidal Field magnets supplied by Russia, Europe, and China. Together, these magnets, weighing nearly 3,000 tonnes, form the electromagnetic core of the Tokamak.
The system operates by injecting a few grams of hydrogen fuel (deuterium and tritium gas) into the Tokamak chamber. The magnets ionize the gas into plasma, confine it in an invisible cage, and shape it. External heating raises the plasma to 150 million degrees Celsius, enabling atomic nuclei to fuse and release significant heat energy. At full capacity, ITER is projected to generate 500 megawatts of fusion power from 50 megawatts of input, achieving a tenfold energy gain.
“What makes ITER unique is not only its technical complexity but the framework of international cooperation that has sustained it through changing political landscapes,” said ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi. “This achievement proves that when humanity faces existential challenges like climate change and energy security, we can overcome national differences to advance solutions.”
In 2024, ITER met all construction targets, with most major components delivered. The project entered the assembly phase, and in April 2025, the first vacuum vessel sector module was installed in the Tokamak Pit, three weeks ahead of schedule. The collaboration involves contributions from China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the US, with each providing components like magnets, superconductors, and vessel sectors.
ITER has also launched a private sector engagement project in 2024 to share knowledge and accelerate fusion development. In April 2025, a public-private workshop was held to address technological challenges. The project’s financing model directs funds to member countries’ companies, fostering innovation and a global fusion supply chain. Europe covers 45% of costs, while China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the US each contribute 9%, with all members accessing full intellectual property.
