ITER ( International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor )
Fusion energy and ITER
ITER will help advance fusion energy technology for a greener and more sustainable energy mix.
Could fusion, the energy source of the sun and stars, be the energy of the future? Fusion has the potential to provide a safe, cost-efficient and sustainable solution to European and global energy needs. For this reason, the EU is part of one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world, called ITER in the south of France.
ITER is a unique project to build the world’s biggest fusion machine.
By fostering innovation and international collaborations, the project creates economic growth and job opportunities while putting the EU in the lead of global fusion research.
Although a purely experimental device, ITER will help advance fusion energy technology for a greener and more sustainable energy mix.
The road to fusion
Fusion science and technology have a long history in Europe and their development was accelerated from 1957 by the Euratom Treaty, which established a European atomic energy community. Since then, European fusion research is better coordinated to make sure that the technology moves forward, as quickly as possible.
European fusion laboratories collaborate through a consortium called EUROfusion, in line with the long-term strategy set out in the European research roadmap to the realisation of fusion energy.
ITER is of key importance in the roadmap, particularly as it aims to prove the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion as a future energy source. Although ITER itself will not produce electricity, DEMO - the device that may follow - should already model a real future fusion power plant and produce electricity. This in turn will pave the way for future commercialisation and use of fusion power, possibly in the second half of the century.
ITER governance and funding
The project stems from the ITER agreement, which was signed by China, Euratom (represented by the European Commission), India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA in 2006. Together, they govern the ITER Organization, which is responsible for constructing and managing the project.
Members have a domestic agency that manages their contributions to the project. The EU’s domestic agency is Fusion for Energy (F4E).
The European Union contributes 45% to the ITER project. For the period 2021 to 2027, the EU decided to allocate €5.61 billion to the project, following a Council decision in February 2021.
In December 2020, the United Kingdom and the EU concluded a trade and cooperation agreement and a protocol, by which the United Kingdom could participate in ITER activities through its membership to F4E, subject to the successful conclusion of the procedures to associate the United Kingdom to the European Union programmes.
The Broader Approach
In parallel to their collaboration on the ITER project, the EU and Japan are working together on three fusion-related projects.
The projects, all located in Japan, aim to complement ITER and accelerate the development of fusion power. The work includes the construction of an advanced fusion device, research into durable materials for use in future devices, and the setting-up of a remote operation room for ITER.
The cooperation was established by the signature of the Broader Approach Agreement in 2007 and a new, second phase of activities is being launched in 2020.
A study on the benefits of broader approach activities under the current agreement and the expected benefits of continued participation was published in May 2021. Major achievements include the design and construction of JT-60SA, the world’s largest tokamak.
On 23 October 2023, JT-60SA began operation, achieving a tokamak plasma for the first time.
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