China has initiated a significant international scientific program focused on fusion plasma research, marking the first time global access to its primary nuclear fusion infrastructure has been made available. This initiative, reported by Xinhua, is based in Hefei and aims to enhance technological advancement in the context of global competition for sustainable energy solutions.
Coordinated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences through its Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP), the program opens key platforms for international collaboration. A highlight of this initiative is the new Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST), which is currently under construction in Hefei. This facility will facilitate experiments, partnerships, and joint projects, all framed within the principles of “open science” and expedited knowledge sharing.
During an official ceremony, researchers from over ten countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, signed the Hefei Declaration on Nuclear Fusion. This document underscores the importance of international cooperation, open data access, and the integration of foreign experts into Chinese research initiatives. The signatories contend that shared platforms can significantly accelerate progress in addressing major challenges in fusion research, such as plasma stability and the energy efficiency of combustion reactions.
Fusion energy aims to replicate the processes fueling the Sun, representing a potential source of clean energy that produces no carbon emissions and carries minimal risks. Researchers utilize magnetic confinement systems, particularly tokamaks, to reach the extreme temperatures necessary for these reactions.
Song Yuntao, vice president of the Institutes of Physical Sciences in Hefei and director of ASIPP, emphasized the critical phase the field is entering, stating, “We are about to enter a new stage of plasma combustion, which is essential for future fusion engineering. Plasma combustion is like a self-sustaining flame, fueled by the heat of the reaction.”
BEST, often referred to as China’s next-generation “artificial sun,” is expected to be operational by the end of 2027. The facility aims to conduct deuterium-tritium plasma experiments and is designed to achieve a fusion power output between 20 and 200 MW. The ultimate objective is to attain a net energy gain, a milestone that has yet to be consistently achieved by any facility globally.
In recent years, China has set multiple world records in plasma confinement, further solidifying its position in the competitive landscape of fusion research that also includes participation from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and the ITER consortium. Despite these advancements, Song warns that the project is navigating a scientific “frontier,” with ongoing challenges such as material resistance to intense neutron flux and maintaining plasma stability at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius.
“The international program builds on the strengths of China’s superconducting tokamak and brings together global expertise to address issues at the frontiers of fusion physics,” Song noted.
The launch of the Hefei program signals a recognition that, despite technological rivalries, fusion remains a field where international collaboration is deemed essential. China is pursuing a mixed model that combines accelerated domestic development with global integration, aiming to bolster its role in the forthcoming clean energy economy. If the current schedule is maintained, BEST and its associated infrastructure could emerge as one of the foremost fusion research centers worldwide in the coming years.
