China Advances Fusion Energy Technology

China has achieved a significant engineering breakthrough in its fusion energy initiative, widely referred to as the ‘artificial sun’ project.

Understanding Fusion

Fusion energy is generated by combining light atomic nuclei, unlike conventional nuclear power plants that split heavy atoms. While this reaction occurs naturally in stars, recreating it on Earth demands temperatures exceeding 180 million degrees Fahrenheit and the containment of plasma with powerful magnetic fields. Since no material can withstand these temperatures, fusion offers a promising long-term energy source. Its fuel—predominantly forms of hydrogen—is abundant, and the process emits no carbon during operation. Fusion energy is not reliant on weather conditions or daylight, unlike wind or solar power, nor does it involve combustion like fossil fuels.

Attempts to obtain comments from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Foreign Ministry were unsuccessful before publication.

Key Technological Developments

On June 27, researchers from the Institute of Plasma Physics in Hefei, Anhui province, announced the successful testing of two crucial superconducting magnet systems for future fusion reactors. These include a large toroidal-field magnet and a high-temperature superconducting central solenoid coil, both vital for containing superheated plasma. The toroidal-field magnet measures 69 feet by 39 feet by 11 feet and weighs 582 metric tons. It has a D-shape and comprises 16 identical magnets that form the complete torus, capable of a 6.5-tesla magnetic field, and is expected to have a 60-year lifespan under challenging operational conditions. The central solenoid coil serves as a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) 60 kA ‘igniter’ component to stabilize the plasma current.

The toroidal-field magnet suspends the plasma inside the reactor, preventing it from contacting the walls. It stores three times the energy of similar toroidal-field magnets used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, the world’s largest nuclear fusion project. The central solenoid maintains the plasma current, stabilizing the fusion reaction.

According to state researchers, these systems were entirely produced in China, following six years of engineering efforts, and involved 47 patents and 14 technical standards to fabricate all raw materials. Independent Western verification is yet to be provided.

This test did not produce electricity. Instead, it confirmed the successful development and testing of reactor-scale components that will be used between experimental plasma devices and future demonstration systems. These magnets are part of the CRAFT (Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology), a crucial national scientific infrastructure for upcoming reactors.

In 2021, the ‘artificial sun’ reactor, officially known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), set a record by maintaining high-temperature plasma for 1,056 seconds.

China’s Green Energy Initiatives

Beijing has allocated at least $6.5 billion to commercial fusion-related projects from 2023 to September 2025, per estimates from the Special Competitive Studies Project, located in Washington, D.C. Fusion energy has been designated as a priority area by the Chinese Communist Party in its latest five-year plan.

Jane Nakano and Yu-Hsuan Yeh, a senior fellow and research intern at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted China’s pursuit of ‘new quality productive forces,’ promoting growth reliant on advanced technology rather than traditional manufacturing. Along with fusion energy, other ‘frontier technology areas’ under the 15th five-year plan include AI, quantum technology, deep-sea exploration, and Arctic exploration.

No country has generated electricity from fusion on a commercial scale. ITER is the largest multinational endeavor, with programs in the United States, Japan, and South Korea encompassing both governmental and private sector research.

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