INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR (ITER): ADVANCING FUSION ENERGY

GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron, recently visited the ITER facility in France, highlighting the project’s progress, particularly the assembly of the world’s largest tokamak. ITER aims to demonstrate fusion as a viable, carbon-free energy source.

What Is ITER?

• International collaboration to build the world’s largest magnetic fusion reactor.
• Aims to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale, sustainable energy source.
• Based on the same principles as the Sun, using hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium.
• Launched in 1985, involving thousands of scientists and engineers.

About the Tokamak

• A magnetic confinement device designed to contain plasma.
• Fusion reactions release energy, absorbed by reactor walls to generate heat.
• Heat is then converted into electricity, similar to conventional power plants.
• Deuterium-tritium fusion reactions are expected to begin by 2039.

Significance of ITER

• Produces enormous energy from minimal fuel, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Zero emissions, making it a clean energy source for tackling climate change.
• Successful demonstration could lead to commercial fusion power plants.

How ITER Works

• Demonstrates “burning plasmas”, where fusion reactions sustain the required temperature.
• Tests tritium breeding concepts, essential for future self-sustaining fusion reactors.

Global Collaboration

• 33 nations participate, with seven key members: China, EU, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, and the U.S.
• Decades of joint research and development to advance fusion technology.
• Goal: Design a demonstration fusion reactor for practical energy generation.

India’s Role in ITER

• Active participant for over two decades.
• 200+ Indian scientists and companies like L&T, TCS contribute to ITER’s construction.
• Modi’s visit marks the first by any Head of State, underscoring India’s commitment to fusion energy.

ITER’s progress signals a major step toward sustainable energy, with India playing a crucial role in global fusion research.