• The ITER project has completed the central solenoid magnet system, a critical component for achieving sustainable fusion energy.
• The completed magnet is powerful enough to levitate an aircraft carrier and will be used to confine superheated plasma within the ITER Tokamak reactor.
• International collaboration, involving over 30 countries, has been crucial for the project's progress despite changing political landscapes.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, a joint effort of over 30 countries, has reached a significant milestone with the completion of its central solenoid magnet system. This system is integral to the ITER Tokamak reactor, designed to prove that nuclear fusion, the energy source of the sun, can be replicated on Earth as a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source. The completion of the magnet system paves the way for the assembly of the reactor in southern France.

• What: Completion of the central solenoid magnet system, the most powerful magnet of its kind, which will be used to confine and control superheated plasma in the ITER Tokamak reactor.
• Who: The ITER project is a collaboration of over 30 countries, including India, China, the US, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and members of the European Union. Key figures include ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi.
• When: The central solenoid modules were completed by April 2025. The ITER Tokamak's first operation is estimated to occur around 2035.
• Where: The ITER project is located in southern France. The central solenoid was built and tested in the United States before being transported to the ITER site.

The completion of the central solenoid magnet system represents a significant step forward for the ITER project and the pursuit of sustainable fusion energy. The project's success relies heavily on international collaboration, overcoming political differences to address global challenges like climate change and energy security. While technical challenges remain and the first operation is not expected until 2035, the progress made so far demonstrates the potential of fusion energy to revolutionize power generation. The involvement of private companies indicates growing interest and investment in the field, potentially accelerating the development of commercial fusion power plants.

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 is faced with existential challenges like climate change and energy security, we can overcome national differences to advance solutions.

The successful completion of ITER's central solenoid magnet system represents a pivotal achievement, yet the path to sustainable fusion energy remains a long and complex endeavor. While the initial goal of first plasma in 2025 has been pushed to 2034, with deuterium-tritium operations now slated for 2039, the project's commitment to comprehensively addressing the challenges of fusion, including achieving a power balance of Q=10 and tritium breeding, positions it as an indispensable R&D platform. Heightened private sector engagement through initiatives like the Private Sector Fusion Engagement project and the ITER Business Forum, signal a collaborative shift towards commercialization, even as skepticism persists regarding overly optimistic timelines. Despite delays and cost overruns, the continued international cooperation, the dissemination of ITER's knowledge to private ventures, and the ongoing development of essential technologies like superconducting magnets and remote handling systems, reinforce the project's critical role in paving the way for future demonstration power plants and the realization of virtually limitless, carbon-free fusion energy.