Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (Toshiba ESS) announced today that it has completed its first manufacturing of toroidal field coils for ITER. ITER is a thermonuclear experimental reactor under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France, that will be used to perform a scientific and technological feasibility study of nuclear fusion energy, which is expected to be one of the future energy sources. Seven countries, Japan, European Union, United States, Russia, China, South Korea and India are taking part in this project.
Nuclear fusion energy generates electric power by utilizing the heat generated from the reactions of atomic nuclei fusing together. This is the “dream energy” known as “the Sun on the Earth” because it can create large-scale power generation using massive amounts of heat energy similar to what happens inside the sun. Nuclear fusion reaction generates the energy through fusion of the atomic nucleus, so it does not create high-level nuclear waste or CO2. Because of this, it is expected to be the next generation of energy that can contribute toward controlling global warming.
This type of toroidal field coil has been entrusted by the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) as one of the largest toroidal field coils in the world. (16.5 m in height, 9 m in width, with a gross weight of approximately 300 tons). ITER uses 18 toroidal field coils, with Toshiba ESS manufacturing 4 toroidal field coils and 6 coil cases. Toshiba ESS is supporting ITER continuously from the start of operation in 2025, beginning with the manufacturing of these first toroidal field coils, and is going to contribute toward achieving a carbon-neutral society by developing state-of-the-art energy technologies. Toshiba ESS will contribute to the research and development of the most advanced energy technologies using its fusion technology developed over many years.
