• ITER has completed the sixth and final module of its central solenoid, a powerful magnet designed to confine plasma within the Tokamak reactor.
• The completed magnet, weighing 3,000 tons, is powerful enough to levitate an aircraft carrier and will work with other magnets to control superheated plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius.
• The ITER project, involving over 30 countries, aims to demonstrate that fusion power can produce 500 megawatts of energy from a 50-megawatt input, achieving a 'burning plasma' state and offering a carbon-free energy source.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has announced the completion of all components of its pulsed superconducting electromagnet system, including the final module of its central solenoid magnet. This magnet, powerful enough to levitate an aircraft carrier, is a crucial component of the Tokamak reactor, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power. The completion of the magnet represents a major step forward in the assembly of the ITER reactor and the pursuit of clean, sustainable energy.

• What: Completion of the sixth and final module of the Central Solenoid, the powerful magnet at the heart of the ITER Tokamak reactor, designed to confine superheated plasma for nuclear fusion.
• Who: The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a collaboration of over 30 countries, including Europe, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. Key individuals include ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi.
• When: The final module was completed in April 2025. ITER aims for first operation no sooner than 2035. Construction targets were reached in 2024, and a 2025 goal was achieved 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
• Where: The ITER Tokamak reactor is being assembled at the ITER site in southern France.

The completion of the central solenoid is a major milestone for the ITER project, demonstrating significant progress in the pursuit of fusion energy. The successful construction and testing of such a powerful magnet, capable of levitating an aircraft carrier, highlights the engineering achievements of the international collaboration. The ITER project aims to prove the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power, offering a potentially clean and abundant energy source. However, significant challenges remain before the reactor becomes fully operational, with the first operation not expected until 2035.

What makes ITER unique is not only its technical complexity but the framework of international cooperation that has sustained it through changing political landscapes. This achievement proves that when humanity faces existential challenges like climate change and energy security, we can overcome national differences to advance solutions.

The successful completion of the ITER central solenoid magnet represents a monumental leap toward realizing sustainable fusion energy, showcasing the remarkable potential of collaborative engineering and innovation on a global scale to tackle pressing energy challenges. While the ITER project continues to navigate complex hurdles, including construction delays now pushing first plasma to 2034 and deuterium-tritium operations to 2039, alongside escalating costs that demand unwavering commitment from its international partners, its mission to prove fusion's feasibility remains critical. The project's advanced technologies, such as the central solenoid—the "backbone" of ITER's magnet system—and innovative solutions for managing extreme heat and remote maintenance, are paving the way for future fusion power plants. Despite the challenges, ITER's potential to unlock a safe, abundant, and carbon-free energy source, mirroring the power of the sun, underscores its vital role in securing a sustainable energy future, fostering continued international cooperation and driving further innovation in fusion technology.