ITER Project
The world's largest scientific and technology project, ITER is jointly conducted by seven developed nations. Their aim is to construct and operate the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to verify the feasibility of commercializing fusion energy. ITER also stands for “the road to solving humankind's energy problems.”
※ ITER : International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
ITER Project Overview
- Goal : Construct and operate ITER with minimum thermal output of 500MW and energy amplification factor(Q) of 10 or higher for the technical and engineering verification of fusion energy commercialization ※ Energy amplification factor (Q): The ratio of energy injected for fusion reaction to energy released after fusion reaction ※ Breakeven point (Q=1): The point where the amount of energy injected and the amount of energy generated are equal
- ITER Members : Korea, European Union, United States, Japan, Russia, China, India
- ITER Construction : Shared device production costs, international organization operation expenses, and joint R&D expenses
- ITER site : Cadarache, southern France
- System assembly : Each participating party manufactures and supplies allocated packages. System assembly occurs on the site. - Each participating party dispatches personnel to ITER site for construction
- Financing : The host (EU) bears 45.46%. The other six parties bear 9.09% each
Project Duration and Costs by Stage
Overview of the ITER Project
Construction |
2007~2025 (18 years) |
6,963 kIUA |
Operation |
2026~2037 (12 years) |
188 kIUA/yr |
Deactivation |
2037~2042 (5years) |
281 kIUA |
Decommissioning |
after 2042 |
530 million euros |
* kIUA: kilo ITER Unit of Accounts (ITER currency unit), 1 kIUA equals 1.7189 million euros (As of 2018)