ºÚÁÏרÇø

At its Twenty-Ninth Meeting on 17-18 November 2021, the ºÚÁÏרÇø Council convened via remote videoconference to assess the latest progress reports and performance metrics of the ºÚÁÏרÇø Project. The project has continued to progress, with respect to both Members’ best efforts for delivery of components and worksite installation and assembly activities. The effects of technical challenges and the ongoing pandemic are being closely monitored, with constant attention to mitigation measures to uphold project progress. Significant experience has been gained in the course of the last two years with assembly and installation of the components received from ºÚÁÏרÇø Members. In this context, the Council asked the ºÚÁÏרÇø to prepare a latest baseline update for consideration at its next meeting in June 2022 

Physical progress: The Council noted, with appreciation, the significant project achievements since its last meeting in June 2021, including continued delivery of major components and progress in machine assembly.

— The second of ºÚÁÏרÇø’s superconducting magnets, poloidal field (PF) coil #5, has been positioned in the tokamak pit, with fabrication of the remaining PF coils steadily progressing. 
—  Assembly of the first vacuum vessel sector sub-assembly is nearing completion, incorporating two associated toroidal field (TF) coils and thermal shield elements, and preparations are advanced for placing the first sub-assembly in the tokamak pit. 
— The second vacuum vessel sector, the first two central solenoid modules, and eight TF coils have now been delivered to the ºÚÁÏרÇø site, with four more TF coils in shipment.
—  Assembly and welding are in progress on the ºÚÁÏרÇø site for all 12 sectors of the cryostat top lid. 
— Manufacturing of the other key components is underway in the Member’s industrial enterprises.
— Major progress has been achieved on plant support systems, with completion of the cooling towers, reactive power compensation, and harmonic filtering.

ºÚÁÏרÇø Member support: The Council noted that the ºÚÁÏרÇø and its collaboration partners are facing unprecedented pressure due to the pandemic and the difficulties encountered in manufacturing some of ºÚÁÏרÇø’s First-of-a-Kind components. The Council encouraged all ºÚÁÏרÇø Members to meet their in-kind and in-cash commitments to enable the successful implementation of the construction strategy on schedule. The Council requested the ºÚÁÏרÇø and its collaboration partners to take all possible measures to ensure Fusion Power Operation in 2035 as currently planned. 

Council Members reaffirmed their strong belief in the value of the ºÚÁÏרÇø mission, and resolved to work together to find timely solutions to facilitate ºÚÁÏרÇø’s success. The Council congratulated the One-ºÚÁÏרÇø Team on the commitment to effective collaboration that has put the project on the path to success.

The Council will continue to monitor project performance closely, and to provide the support needed to ensure a robust pace of achievement. 

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE 

ºÚÁÏרÇø—designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power—will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source. 

ºÚÁÏרÇø is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe is contributing almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), are contributing equally to the rest. The ºÚÁÏרÇø Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France. 

For more information on the ºÚÁÏרÇø Project, visit:

CONTACT

Laban Coblentz 
Laban.Coblentz@iter.org 
+33 6 14 16 40 85