Nuclear: ITER makes new magnetic acquisitions

ITER is progressing with the installation of its crucial superconducting coils and magnets, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the nuclear fusion device.

Share:

Avancées Cruciales pour ITER

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Six poloidal field (PF) coils will be positioned horizontally aroundITER ‘s vacuum vessel, and D-shaped toroidal field coils to shape the plasma and keep it suspended away from the walls. Fusion for Energy, the European Domestic Agency for ITER, is responsible for procuring the five largest superconducting ring magnets in the project, marking a breakthrough in nuclear fusion.

International manufacturing and delivery

The smallest PF coil, PF1, measuring 9 meters in diameter and weighing 200 tonnes, was produced by Russia under a contract signed in 2011 and delivered to the ITER site in February this year. The PF6 coil, the heaviest of ITER’s superconducting magnets, weighing in at 350 tonnes and with an external diameter of around 11.2 metres, was manufactured by the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a member of the TAC1 consortium.

European advances and assembly

The other four coils – PF2, PF3, PF4 and PF5 – were produced in Europe at the Cadarache site. Because of their large size, these coils are too big to be manufactured off-site and transported to ITER. In April 2021, the first European reel, PF5, successfully completed all manufacturing and testing and was removed from the facility for storage until its installation in September 2021.

Reduced production times and technical expertise

The PF3 coil, one of the two largest ring-shaped coils measuring 24 meters in diameter, marked the culmination of the technical and organizational expertise accumulated since the start of manufacturing. Although 30% larger and wound with 20% more superconducting cable, the PF3 was completed in two years and nine months, saving 15 months on manufacturing time.

ITER continues to push back the boundaries of science and technology. The installation of the poloidal coils underlines the project’s steady progress towards the realization of nuclear fusion as a clean, large-scale energy source.

Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy have officially requested the Spanish government to delay the closure of the Almaraz nuclear power plant, originally scheduled for 2028, reigniting the debate on nuclear power's role in the national energy mix.
The reactor vessel for Unit 1 at Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear plant has been delivered following a 20-day maritime transport from Saint Petersburg, marking a critical milestone in the country’s energy project.
Ontario Power Generation secures CAD3bn ($2.1bn) in public equity financing to construct four modular reactors at Darlington, aiming to ease private sector entry into next-generation nuclear infrastructure.
French developer Newcleo launches a joint venture with Nextchem through a EUR70 mn contract to design the conventional island of its upcoming 200 MW modular nuclear reactors.
NANO Nuclear strengthens its North American strategy by acquiring Global First Power in Canada, securing regulatory rights for its KRONOS MMR™ project at Chalk River.
South Korea becomes the first country to submit a safeguards technical report to the IAEA for a small modular reactor, setting a precedent for early integration of non-proliferation requirements in nuclear design.
The Environmental Authority criticises the lack of key data on health risks, chemical discharges and construction safety for EDF's two upcoming EPR2 reactors in Seine-Maritime.
Brazil and China have concluded a three-year agreement to secure access to essential radioisotopes for the medical, industrial and scientific sectors, with no financial exchange between the parties.
US-based developer Last Energy will deploy its first domestic microreactor at Texas A&M-RELLIS, marking a strategic step in the advanced modular reactor race.
PGE acquires ZE PAK's stake in the joint venture responsible for developing Poland’s second nuclear site, consolidating a strategic asset within its energy portfolio.
Amazon unveils new visuals of its upcoming nuclear site, marking a key step in its partnership with X-energy to deploy up to 960 MW of modular nuclear capacity in Washington state.
Canadian uranium producer NexGen Energy has completed a A$1bn ($639mn) equity raise split between North American and Australian markets to support the development of its Rook I project.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is examining the permanent closure of units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the oldest at the site, while continuing efforts to restart unit 6.
The formal expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran comes as international sanctions have already been reinstated and diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.
Oklo, newcleo and Blykalla partner to develop advanced nuclear fuel infrastructure in the United States, backed by a planned $2bn investment.
enCore Energy has identified three new uranium roll fronts at its Alta Mesa project, with ongoing drilling aimed at defining their extent and accelerating development work.
California-based Radiant will build its first microreactor production facility in Oak Ridge, on a former Manhattan Project site, with production targeted at 50 units per year by 2028.
EDF restarted the Flamanville EPR reactor after repairing non-compliant valves, delaying the target of reaching full power output of 1,620 MW until the end of autumn.
Nano Nuclear and the University of Illinois will begin drilling operations for the KRONOS MMR™ reactor on October 24, marking a key step toward commercialisation of the nuclear project on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Natura Resources is finalising construction of the MSR-1, an advanced liquid-fuel nuclear reactor, with a planned launch in 2026 on the Abilene Christian University campus.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.