ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) Construction
Cadarache, France [INTERNATIONAL] · Construction began 2007, initial operations 2035, full operations 2039 (estimated) · ~£22.65bn (2024 prices)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchSignificant cost overruns and delays, highlighting the complexity and ambition of fusion energy research. - The project serves as a crucial step towards demonstrating the feasibility of fusion power at a power plant scale. - Lessons learned in international project management and large-scale scientific collaboration.
Key engineering challenges
Assembling millions of components with extreme precision. - Developing and integrating cutting-edge technologies for magnetic confinement fusion. - Managing a complex international collaboration with 35 member countries. - Overcoming significant technical and financial challenges in a first-of-a-kind project.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- ITER Organization (a collaboration of 35 countries)
- Lead contractor
- Various international contractors
- Lead designers
- ITER Organization
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Largest Tokamak device, 500 MW fusion power output (target), 840 m³ plasma volume
- Disciplines
- nuclear; fusion; mechanical; electrical; civil; structural; cryogenics; vacuum; materials science; remote handling
- Standards & frameworks
- International fusion safety standards
Sources: ITER.org: ITER - the way to new energy (https://www.iter.org/) - Wikipedia: ITER (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITER) - Science.org: Giant international fusion project is in big trouble (https://www.science.org/content/article/giant-international-fusion-project-big-trouble) - Congress.gov: ITER—An International Nuclear Fusion Research and (https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48362) - Fusion for Energy: ITER : International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/iter/)