China Breaks New Ground in Fusion Superconducting Magnets

Chinese researchers have successfully completed the development and acceptance testing of two critical superconducting magnet systems for nuclear fusion reactors, marking a significant step toward the goal of commercial fusion energy. The breakthrough, announced on June 27, 2026, by the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hefei, Anhui Province, includes the world’s largest toroidal field (TF) superconducting magnet and a high-temperature superconducting central solenoid (CS) coil — both achieving 100% domestic localization of core technologies.

The Magnets: Engineering Marvels

The toroidal field magnet measures 21 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 3.3 meters tall, weighing 582 metric tons. According to Global Times, its volume is 1.3 times that of the equivalent magnet developed for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), with three times the energy storage capacity — making it the world’s largest fusion reactor superconducting magnet to date.

The TF magnet operates at 98 kiloamperes with total energy storage of 120 gigajoules. Sixteen such magnets will eventually be assembled to generate a 6.5 Tesla magnetic field at the plasma center, with a maximum field strength of 14.5 Tesla.

Simultaneously, the high-temperature superconducting central solenoid coil completed full-condition parameter testing. The Chinese Academy of Sciences reported that the coil stably carries a current of 60 kiloamperes, stores 6.03 megajoules of energy, and achieves a maximum magnetic field change rate of 5.1 Tesla per second — with core performance reaching internationally leading levels.

The Science Behind the Breakthrough

In a nuclear fusion reactor, containing plasma at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius is one of the most formidable engineering challenges. The TF magnet creates the primary magnetic confinement field — a “magnetic cage” that prevents the superheated plasma from touching the reactor walls.

Wu Yu, a research fellow at ASIPP, explained that the magnet serves to confine plasma, keeping it within the vacuum chamber without striking the walls. Its magnetic field strength correlates with the temperature and density required for plasma in future operations, as reported by CCTV News.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese technology expert with a background in electromagnetic research, described the toroidal field superconducting magnet as “a sealed cage built of thickened stainless steel, serving as an insulating ‘enclosure’ for the high-temperature plasma fireball.” Without this magnet, he told Global Times, the plasma cannot be stably bound and would directly disperse, making nuclear fusion reactions impossible.

The central solenoid coil plays an equally vital role. It both ignites the plasma to form a high-temperature fireball and dynamically controls the plasma’s position and current throughout the reaction. Qin Jinggang, deputy director of ASIPP, noted that the coil’s rated operating current of 46.5 kiloamperes is several times that of the existing EAST facility. Its performance, he said, is “a decisive factor in determining whether fusion technology can progress from experimental facilities to practical applications.”

100% Domestic Localization

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this achievement is the complete domestic production of all components. Song Yuntao, ASIPP director, confirmed that all special stainless steel, insulating materials, and superconducting materials deployed in the magnets are made domestically, marking 100 percent localization.

As reported by Guangming Daily, the six-year development project — spanning design, pre-research, prototyping, manufacturing, and testing — resulted in 47 authorized patents and the establishment of 14 technical standards. The project achieved full-chain domestic production from superconducting materials and structural design to complete fabrication processes.

This localization has implications beyond the two magnets themselves. By leveraging the cutting-edge application scenario of high-temperature nuclear fusion, two complete industrial chains — for low-temperature superconductors (niobium-tin) and high-temperature superconductors (yttrium-barium-copper oxide) — have been cultivated, driving upgrades across the entire supply chain.

Strategic Context and Future Plans

China’s pursuit of controlled nuclear fusion spans over 40 years, beginning with its first tokamak device, HL-1, in approximately 1984. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), completed in 2006, has since set multiple world records, including plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius and extended pulse durations.

The Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) serves as the engineering test bed for key components of future fusion reactors, including the planned BEST compact fusion reactor and the larger China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR), targeted for completion around 2035. China’s ultimate goal is commercial fusion power grid connection by approximately 2050.

The South China Morning Post reported that these results clear a major engineering hurdle on the path to confining plasma hotter than the sun’s core. The development also positions China competitively in the global fusion race, with multiple nations — including the United States, European Union members, Japan, South Korea, and Russia — pursuing similar goals.

Implications for Clean Energy

Nuclear fusion offers the prospect of clean, virtually limitless energy. Fusion fuel (deuterium) is abundant in seawater — one liter contains enough deuterium to produce energy equivalent to 300 liters of gasoline. Fusion produces no carbon dioxide emissions and no long-lived radioactive waste, and reactions self-extinguish if containment is lost, eliminating meltdown risk.

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) has identified nuclear fusion as a key future growth frontier. By achieving full localization of critical fusion components, China reduces its vulnerability to potential technology export restrictions from other nations while building the industrial infrastructure needed for the fusion energy economy of the future.

What’s Next

The project team leader stated that these breakthroughs have further consolidated China’s superconducting engineering foundation for fusion reactor construction, significantly enhancing independent research and development capabilities for fusion facilities. The next steps involve assembling the 16 TF magnets into their complete toroidal configuration and progressing toward the BEST compact fusion reactor.

As the global race for fusion energy intensifies, China’s achievement in superconducting magnet technology represents not just a technical milestone, but a strategic investment in the energy infrastructure of the latter half of the 21st century.