India's Key Role in ITER's Magnet System Completion
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Major milestone in ITER's development |
| Project Name | ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) |
| Location | Cadarache, southern France |
| Goal | Demonstrate feasibility of fusion energy at an industrial scale |
| Members | 7 members: India, China, USA, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union (host) |
| India's Role | Pivotal contribution to ITER's infrastructure |
| India's Key Contributions | - Designed and manufactured cryostat chamber <br> - Developed cooling and heating systems <br> - Supplied cryolines, in-wall shielding, and heating systems |
| Cryostat Details | - Size: 30 meters tall and wide <br> - Function: Houses the Tokamak, maintains ultra-cold environment (-269°C) |
| Recent Milestone | Completion of the Central Solenoid (main magnet system) |
| Central Solenoid | - Function: Controls superhot plasma <br> - Strength: Magnetic force strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier |
| Output Target | 500 MW fusion power from 50 MW input (10x energy gain) |
| Global Collaboration | - Cost Sharing: EU contributes 45%, others ~9% each <br> - Components: Sourced from 30+ countries, 100+ factories across 3 continents |
| 2025 Achievement | First vacuum vessel module inserted ahead of schedule |
| Future Prospects | - Objective: Achieve "burning plasma" (self-sustaining fusion) <br> - Data Use: Guide development of commercial fusion reactors <br> - Private Sector: Increasing participation |
| Research Benefits | Equal access to research outcomes, data, and patents |