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Construction of a megaproject to imitate the Sun in France involves more than 35 nations and promises to revolutionize the generation of clean energy.
In an unprecedented global effort, more than 35 nations have joined forces in a megaproject to recreate, here on Earth, the process that occurs inside the Sun. It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but it’s real. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), located in France, is the largest scientific experiment in history and, when completed, will have the most powerful nuclear fusion reactor ever built. Its goal? To generate an astronomical amount of clean energy, capable of powering much of Europe.
A sun on Earth: the ITER megaproject
ITER, a megaproject of epic proportions, not only represents one of the greatest scientific advances of the century, but is also the most complex of all time. Its construction to imitate the Sun involves cutting-edge technology, bringing together scientists from all over the world to try to recreate the extreme conditions found in stars.. Scheduled for completion in 2036, the reactor aims to demonstrate that nuclear fusion — the process by which the Sun generates energy — is viable here on Earth.
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the magic word. Unlike nuclear fission, which is used today in nuclear power plants and splits heavy atoms, fusion joins together light hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing a monumental amount of energy. The most interesting thing is that, unlike fission, fusion does not generate dangerous radioactive waste, making it a promising and practically inexhaustible option. The construction of the megaproject to imitate the Sun therefore seeks to open doors to a clean and safe source of energy for the future.
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The grandeur of ITER
Built in Cadarache, in the south of France, ITER is a true colossus. The complex spans 180 hectares and has 39 buildings, with the tokamak being the heart of the project.. This gigantic cylindrical reactor will be responsible for creating and containing the superheated plasma needed for nuclear fusion to occur. The challenge is monumental: the plasma needs to reach temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius, about 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun.
To handle this task, the construction of ITER uses superconducting magnets that need to be cooled to -270ºC, almost absolute zero. These magnets, some weighing more than 360 tons, are responsible for confining the plasma and preventing it from touching the reactor walls., which could cause irreparable damage. All this precision makes ITER the most challenging megaproject ever attempted by humanity.
Construction faced delays and cost increases
Not everything is sunshine at ITER. Since the beginning of its construction, the project has faced delays and cost increases. The original plan was for the reactor to begin operating in 2020, but technical issues, rising material prices and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed the date back to 2036.. The budget, which started at $5 billion, has now ballooned to more than $30 billion, highlighting the scale of the technical and logistical challenges involved in this megaproject.
One of the major obstacles was the discovery of cracks in the reactor's cooling tubes, which temporarily halted construction. However, the scientific community remains optimistic. It is believed that once operational, ITER will not only prove that nuclear fusion is a viable source of energy, but will also pave the way for future commercial reactors.
The race for nuclear fusion with this megaproject
While the ITER megaproject is slowly moving forward, other initiatives are gaining momentum around the world. Projects such as Wendelstein 7-X in Germany and the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States are exploring new approaches to nuclear fusion. In 2022, NIF achieved a historic feat by generating more energy than it consumed in a fusion reaction, a milestone in the pursuit of this technology.
Despite the challenges, ITER remains the most ambitious project in the field of nuclear fusion. If successful, it could usher in a new era of unlimited, clean energy, proving that building to mimic the sun could be the key to solving the global energy crisis.
And you, what did you think of this megaproject to imitate the Sun?
