American-made 270,000-lb components designed to facilitate nuclear fusion reactions at the ITER project are now ready for use.

In a significant milestone for both General Atomics and the United States, the Central Solenoid for the ITER fusion project has been successfully completed. This monumental achievement marks a watershed moment in the development of fusion technology and further strengthens General Atomics' position at the forefront of global fusion innovation.

The Central Solenoid, a colossal piece of machinery, is comprised of six individual sections, or modules, each weighing over 270,000 pounds. When assembled, the Central Solenoid will stand more than 18 meters (59 feet) tall, measure 4.25 meters (14 feet) wide, and weigh over 1,000 tons.

This mammoth structure will play a crucial role in powering fusion reactions at ITER, an international fusion science facility under construction in southern France. The Central Solenoid's primary function is to compress and stabilise the plasma, a hot, charged gas, necessary for nuclear fusion to occur.

General Atomics, a San Diego-based firm, has developed the Central Solenoid, which is the largest and most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet ever built. The project, spanning 15 years, was completed inside General Atomics' Magnet Technologies Center in Poway, Calif.

The large scope of work for the Central Solenoid demanded unprecedented engineering innovation. The program enabled General Atomics to establish unmatched technical capabilities that will serve as a foundation for future fusion technologies.

Notably, General Atomics is the first private company to take on the challenge of building fusion magnets at this scale. The completion of the Central Solenoid by General Atomics is a testament to its technical prowess and commitment to advancing fusion technology.

The CNPE Consortium, including China Nuclear Power Engineering, China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company Ltd., Southwestern Institute of Physics, Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences ASIPP, and Framatome, has also contributed to the assembly of the central solenoid module for the ITER facility.

This collaboration underscores the international cooperation necessary for the successful development and implementation of fusion technology. The completion of the Central Solenoid is a major technical achievement for the U.S., and a significant step forward in the quest to harness the nearly limitless energy potential of nuclear fusion.

American-made 270,000-lb components designed to facilitate nuclear fusion reactions at the ITER project are now ready for use.