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Earth’s Artificial Sun: China’s Fusion Milestone

In January of this year, China achieved a groundbreaking milestone in nuclear energy, setting a new world record with its experimental reactor — the Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the “artificial sun.”

The reactor maintained a stable, high-temperature plasma for 1,066 seconds — nearly 18 minutes — an unprecedented result in the history of nuclear fusion research.

This achievement represents a significant step toward realizing humanity’s age-old dream: unlimited, clean energy through controlled nuclear fusion.

— After we build a power generator, we will start producing energy by 2040, — said Dr. Song Yuntao, Director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China’s technological breakthrough not only confirms its growing role in the global tech race, but could also significantly shape the future of global energy and climate policy.

The EAST reactor, located in Hefei in Anhui Province, aims to replicate the nuclear fusion process that powers the Sun. During this process, hydrogen nuclei merge into helium, releasing vast amounts of energy.

However, reproducing this process on Earth requires extreme conditions — the plasma must reach temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, several times hotter than the Sun’s core, and its stability must be maintained for a prolonged period.

Not long ago, such parameters seemed unattainable — the previous record of 403 seconds was set in 2023, also at EAST. In just two years, the duration has nearly tripled, demonstrating the rapid pace of technological progress. Experts emphasize that every new record brings us closer to the moment when commercial fusion power becomes feasible.

— We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity,— Song said.

Fusion Energy as an EU Climate Strategy

For the European Union, which has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, fusion energy is becoming one of the pillars of its energy transition strategy.

— In the Commission, we follow a net-zero policy and so each and every energy source that can contribute to that is, of course, most welcome — said Massimo Garribba, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy — If this is done, then you will have a cycle which is basically self-sustaining. In terms of energy security, this is a very advantageous situation — explained Garribba.

Fusion reactions emit no greenhouse gases, and their waste is far less problematic than that of traditional nuclear power plants. This makes fusion technology a potentially key player in reducing global warming and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The European Union actively supports the development of this technology through its participation in the global International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.

The project, located in the research center at Cadarache in southern France, is one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors in history. Its goal is to construct the largest and most advanced fusion reactor, proving that it is possible to produce more energy than the reaction consumes.

ITER is a joint project involving 35 countries, including EU nations, the UK, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and the USA.

— We absolutely need to have alternate innovative technology in order to have a massive, predictable, continuous world energy supply — emphasized Bernard Bigot, former Director-General of ITER — The Chinese contribution is just great. China is highly motivated (with) full political support, and so far they have been providing all the innovative and specific components on time and on specification. So China is really an exemplary partner for ITER — Bigot said.

China also plays a key role in the project, accounting for about 9 proc. of its implementation — both financially and technologically. Thanks to experience gained from the EAST project, China provides valuable data and solutions that are used not only in ITER but also in other international research efforts.

Although the road to commercial application of nuclear fusion is still long and technological barriers — such as energy efficiency and material durability — have yet to be fully overcome, the increasing number of breakthrough achievements proves that the direction is right.

For the EU, which is committed to a green transition, fusion energy could be a game-changing technology — offering a clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy source. In an era of intensifying climate impacts, solutions like nuclear fusion offer real hope for a future free from emissions and fossil fuel dependence.

Continued international cooperation will be crucial — both within ITER and in new research projects — to accelerate the development and large-scale implementation of this revolutionary technology.

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