China Completes Tests on World’s Largest Superconducting Magnet for Fusion Reactor

• June 30, 2026

Chinese engineers have successfully completed the final testing phase of the world’s largest superconducting magnet designed for their thermonuclear fusion reactor. The development is part of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) located in Hefei.

This achievement positions China as a key player in the global race to harness fusion energy, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of fusion technology. The superconducting magnet is a crucial component responsible for generating the intense magnetic fields necessary to confine plasma within the reactor.

Bridging Experimental and Future Fusion Power Plants

The Chinese project fills a gap between the ongoing ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) facility under construction in France and the planned European DEMO fusion power plant. ITER aims to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion as an energy source, while DEMO is intended to be the first fusion power plant generating electricity at a commercial scale.

CRAFT is positioned as a transitional step, integrating lessons from ITER and contributing to the development of next-generation fusion reactors. With the successful testing of the superconducting magnet, China is expected to advance its own fusion power generation efforts ahead of other international initiatives.

While technical specifics and timelines were not disclosed, the completion of these tests highlights China’s commitment to achieving practical fusion energy. The use of superconducting magnets, which operate with minimal electrical resistance, improves energy efficiency and magnetic field strength, essential for maintaining the stability of fusion plasma during operation.

Fusion energy has long been regarded as a potential clean and virtually limitless power source. Achieving a stable and controlled fusion reaction has proven a major scientific and engineering challenge due to the extreme conditions required to replicate the processes powering the Sun.

China’s progress underscores its strategic focus on innovation in energy technologies and its aspiration to be a leader in new energy frontiers. Further developments and operational results from the CRAFT project are awaited by the global fusion research community.

Chinese engineers finalized testing of the world’s largest superconducting magnet for their fusion reactor under the CRAFT project.