China has completed and tested the world’s largest superconducting fusion magnet, marking a significant step in its ambitious effort to develop an “Artificial Sun” capable of producing clean energy through nuclear fusion.
Developed by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the toroidal field superconducting magnet measures 21 metres in height, 12 metres in width and weighs 582 tonnes. It is a key component of China’s fusion energy programme and will be used in the China Fusion Engineering Demonstration Reactor (CFEDR).
The magnet is designed to generate an extremely powerful magnetic field that traps plasma, a superheated gas reaching temperatures of around 100 million degrees Celsius, inside the fusion reactor. Along with the central solenoid coil, it plays a critical role in initiating and sustaining the plasma needed for fusion reactions.
Researchers said it is the largest fusion reactor superconducting magnet ever built, measuring a 13% increase in volume and three times the stored energy of similar magnets developed for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
According to the report, the magnet can operate reliably for 60 years at temperatures close to −269°C, while carrying extremely high electrical currents and withstanding intense radiation and mechanical forces. The project was developed entirely using domestic Chinese materials and manufacturing capabilities.
China has outlined a three-stage roadmap for commercial fusion energy, aiming to complete the CFEDR by 2030. While major engineering challenges remain, the successful completion of the magnet strengthens the country’s long-term goal of producing virtually unlimited, carbon-free electricity through nuclear fusion.
