European labs lead the way: Europe’s fusion research in full swing

Garching, Cadarache, Lausanne, Culham, Greifswald [07.04.2025] — In a virtually unprecedented alignment of efforts, Europe’s major fusion research experiments have simultaneously entered a high-intensity experiment phase, showcasing Europe's strong collaboration and leadership in the global quest to develop fusion as a sustainable energy source. Recent milestones, including JET’s record-breaking fusion power output and WEST’s record-setting plasma duration, underscore Europe’s cutting-edge technology and scientific excellence. With vital contributions from Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV), ASDEX Upgrade, and Wendelstein 7-X, as well as essential technology work for ITER and the European DEMO program, EUROfusion is proud to highlight the breadth and depth of Europe’s fusion research capabilities.

Driving Global Fusion Research

• JET (Culham, UK): Achieved a record 69 MJ of fusion energy during experiments in late 2023, a very important result towards the development of sustained fusion at high power and in preparation of the ITER experiments.
• WEST (Cadarache, France): Demonstrated unprecedented plasma durations, further validating the approach needed both in terms of physics and technology for long pulse operation, as will be required for ITER and future fusion plants.
• TCV (Lausanne, Switzerland): Investigating advanced plasma configurations, enabling flexible experimentation with new control methods aimed at optimizing plasma stability and performance.
• ASDEX Upgrade (Garching, Germany): Pushing the boundaries of plasma confinement and edge physics to inform ITER operation scenarios and advanced concepts for future reactors.

• Wendelstein 7-X (Greifswald, Germany): Showcasing stellarator design advantages, including longer and disruptions free plasma pulses, offering complementary insights to tokamak research.
• MAST Upgrade (Culham, UK): Advancing the spherical tokamak approach with an innovative “Super-X” divertor concept to reduce heat loads on interior vessel walls, enhancing exhaust solutions for future fusion power plants.

Scientists from all across Europe have participated into those recent achievements, setting the ground for training the future pan European team of experts that will contribute to the scientific exploitation of next step fusion devices, such as ITER.  Additional labs across Europe which are also part of the EUROfusion consortium are pivotal for technology development and smaller-scale experimental programs, advancing diagnostic tools, high-heat-flux component testing, and materials research. These findings are channeled directly into supporting ITER—the world’s largest fusion experiment under construction in France—and the European DEMO program, which aims at demonstrating the commercial viability of fusion power.

Coordinated Efforts with a Shared Vision

EUROfusion’s integrated approach unites these diverse experiments under a shared research roadmap. This collective thrust accelerates discovery, avoids duplication, and ensures European scientists and engineers pool their expertise to tackle the complex challenges on the path to fusion energy.

Dr. Gianfranco Federici, EUROfusion Programme Manager, emphasizes:

“The main strengths of EUROfusion Consortium are the broad scientific knowledge and the strong shared assets and facilities that address important scientific and engineering challenges. Our collective effort across multiple facilities demonstrates the immense potential of fusion research in Europe. By coordinating our resources and talent, we can effectively support ITER in several critical technical, train a new generation, and advance faster towards a viable fusion power plant. This intensive operational period is a demonstration of our commitment to leading the global race for clean, safe, and abundant energy.” 

Recent Achievements and Planned Experiments

• WEST

 Dr J. Bucalossi, Head of Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research (IRFM), CEA:

 “WEST is a unique facility in Europe to investigate how to extend plasma operation in tokamaks over long duration, as will be required in ITER and future fusion plants. It features all elements needed for long pulse operation, such as superconducting magnets and actively cooled ITER grade plasma facing components. Our efforts in both physics and technology culminated recently in a plasma pulse of more than 1000 s duration, the targeted pulse duration for ITER, taking us one step closer to next step fusion devices.”

• TCV

Dr. Stefano Coda, Head of Tokamak Operations and Core Physics, EPFL, Swiss Plasma Center:

“TCV is a uniquely flexible device in terms of plasma shaping and heating mix. It continues to respond quickly to new theoretical ideas and challenges, and operates in support of ITER while also researching alternative DEMO configurations with state-of-the-art diagnostics and control tools. Recent highlights include novel techniques for runaway electron mitigation, exploration of ELM-free regimes such as negative triangularity and QCE, advanced exhaust solutions such as the X-point radiator, and fully non-inductive hot-ion discharges.”

• ASDEX Upgrade

Prof. Dr. Rachael M. McDermott, Head of Physics of the Plasma Edge Division, Max PIanck Institute for Plasma Physics:

“Our research covers a wide range of plasma physics topics that aim to support ITER and reactor operation. Experiments at ASDEX Upgrade are key in this respect, as they offer the possibility of integrating high power fluxes, flexible heating, reactor relevant plasma facing materials, and a suite of world-class diagnostics.  We back these experiments with a wide assortment of theoretical modeling, enabling us to push our understanding and provide more reliable predictions for future machines.“

• Wendelstein 7-X

Prof. Dr. Robert Wolf, Head of Stellarator Heating and Optimisation Division, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics:

“The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator is demonstrating long-pulse operation with an advanced divertor, optimizing stellarator design for improved plasma confinement, enabling extensive studies of high-temperature plasma physics, and proving stellarators to be a viable path toward fusion energy. ”

• MAST Upgrade (MAST-U)

James Harrison, MAST Upgrade Science Leader, UK Atomic Energy Authority, said: 

“At MAST Upgrade, we are deepening our understanding of tokamak plasmas to help optimise future tokamak designs and fusion power plants. A diverse team of over 100 researchers from across the world are currently making great progress conducting MAST Upgrade's fourth round of experiments - the most exciting scientific campaign MAST Upgrade has undertaken to date. These set of experiments, underpinned by theory and simulations, have a clear focus on understanding how to confine and stabilise high-performance fusion plasmas while ensuring effective power exhaust, bringing us one step further to commercial fusion energy."

JT-60SA: the largest operating tokamak

In parallel, Europe is breaking new ground with JT-60SA, a tokamak built in collaboration with Japan, under the Broader Approach agreement. Hosted in Naka (Japan), this fusion device had its first plasma operations in late 2023, becoming the world’s largest tokamak – a title it will hold until ITER is up and running. Sam Davis, Project Leader of JT-60SA for F4E adds:

“JT-60SA is emerging as a facility that will have a vital role in preparing the next generation of fusion operators and researchers,”

Europe provided a wide range of its components, procured by Fusion for Energy (F4E) with the collaboration of EUROfusion, voluntary contributors and industrial suppliers.  Currently, the teams are upgrading the device for more powerful operations from 2026. Through its exploitation, the fusion community will harvest essential data for the future operation of ITER and DEMO.

Europe’s Pivotal Role

Building on pioneering achievements like JET’s record fusion power output and WEST’s record plasma pulse durations, Europe continues to lead fusion research. Each of these experiments contributes specialized knowledge—testing new materials, perfecting plasma control, or designing resilient reactor components—to ensure ITER’s and DEMO’s success.
 

Dr. Gianfranco Federici adds:

“Our vision is to effectively contribute with our scientific achievements to the success of ITER and to accelerate the path toward commercial fusion. The European fusion community’s dedication—backed by robust political and societal support—positions Europe at the forefront of this global endeavour.” 

Call to Action

EUROfusion and all associated facilities welcome journalists, policymakers, and stakeholders to witness these breakthroughs first-hand. Europe’s labs, each unique in their approach and expertise, offer unparalleled insights into fusion’s potential to address the world’s growing energy needs sustainably.

For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact:

• Media Contact for EUROfusion

EUROfusion - European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy 
Tamás Szabolics, tamas.szabolics@euro-fusion.org 

• Media contacts by participating European fusion experiments 

France (WEST) - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CEA, Cadarache 

CEA Press Office - presse@cea.fr 

Sylvie Gibert - sylvie.gibert@cea.fr 

Germany (ASDEX Upgrade, Wendelstein 7-X) - Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, IPP, Garching and Greifswald 

Frank Fleschner - frank.fleschner@ipp.mpg.de 

Switzerland (TCV) - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Swiss Plasma Center, Lausanne 

Yves Martin - yves.martin@epfl.ch 

Nadia Barth – nadia.barth@epfl.ch  

United Kingdom (MAST-Upgrade )– United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, UKAEA, Culham 

mediaenquiry@ukaea.uk 

• Media Contact for ITER

Sabina Griffith - Sabina.Griffith@iter.org

• Media Contact for Fusion for Energy

Aris Apollonatos - aris.apollonatos@f4e.europa.eu

Join us on this exciting journey, and see how Europe is spearheading the quest for a new era of clean, sustainable fusion energy.

RESOURCES AND CONTACTS

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BACKGROUND

About EUROfusion

EUROfusion, the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy, is at the forefront of advancing fusion technology with the goal of establishing fusion as a safe, sustainable, and economically viable source of energy. It champions the pursuit of fusion as a large-scale, sustainable energy source through its coordination of Europe's fusion research activities.

Operating under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, EUROfusion advances fusion technology and research across eight key missions, as detailed in the European Fusion Research Roadmap. The programme is dedicated to paving the way for fusion power plants, leveraging collaborative research and innovation to overcome the technical and scientific challenges of harnessing fusion energy. This effort is epitomized by EUROfusion's joint and very successful exploitation of fusion experimental machines across Europe, including the operation of JET until the end of 2023, showcasing a unique and concrete contribution to fusion science. This includes preparation for the scientific exploitation of ITER, as well as laying the technological groundwork for DEMO, the planned demonstration fusion power plant.

EUROfusion's commitment extends to fostering the next generation of European fusion researchers, ensuring a skilled workforce for ITER and future machines. By integrating efforts across 195 research entities in 29 European countries, EUROfusion is actively shaping the future of energy, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and economic viability in fusion technology.

For more insights into our mission and progress, visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, or Facebook.

About Euratom​​​​​​​

The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) is a complementary funding programme to the EU Horizon Europe Programme. It is dedicated to nuclear research and innovation in fission and fusion. The Euratom Programme includes both direct actions undertaken by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, and indirect actions conducted by multi-partner consortia. One example is EUROfusion, responsible for implementing Europe-wide fusion research.

With a budget of €1.38 billion for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025, the Euratom Research and Training Programme is focused on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection, as well as fusion energy research. €583 million is dedicated to indirect actions on fusion research and development.

For more information: Euratom Research and Training Programme