International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

The Challenge

Since 2014, Tractebel and its partner, SOCOTEC, have been involved in supervising the design, testing, and commissioning of ITER, a major nuclear fusion project uniting 35 countries. The goal is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes. ITER is set to become the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device.

The Solution

Tractebel’s teams have contributed to numerous contracts, including project owner assistance and design review projects, such as:

• Monitoring the design, construction, testing, qualification, and commissioning of the ITER buildings and their systems. This scope includes civil works, handling equipment, HVAC, electrical, I&C, fire protection, earthing, and lightning protection.
• Overseeing the construction and commissioning of the assembly building, B13, featuring 750-ton capacity mega overhead cranes operational since March 2020.
• Managing the installation of the central part of the tokamak building, B11, which houses the fusion machine, as well as the buildings supplying power to the tokamak’s electromagnets (B32 and B33) and the cryo fluids plant buildings (B51 and B52).
• Executing studies for the tokamak assembly preparatory building, B22, and conducting review processes during construction.

The Impact

ITER represents a significant step in making nuclear fusion reactors a reality. Fusion energy promises a low-carbon, large-scale energy source based on the same principles powering the sun and stars.