Article

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has recently secured a significant contract from Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) to manufacture 20 outer vertical targets, vital components of the divertors for the ITER fusion reactor, which is currently under construction in southern France. This latest order enables MHI to produce a total of 38 units, following contracts for earlier production batches of six and twelve units.

The outer vertical targets are integral to the divertor system, which serves a critical function in maintaining plasma stability by expelling unburned fuel and impurities generated during fusion reactions. These targets must endure extreme conditions, with heat loads reaching up to 20 megawatts per square meter—equivalent to the thermal stress experienced by a spacecraft upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The complexity of their structural design necessitates advanced manufacturing technologies, underscoring MHI's expertise developed through previous projects, including the prototype completed in 2024.

MHI's involvement with ITER extends beyond the outer vertical targets; the company has also been contracted to manufacture five of the 19 toroidal field coils, another essential component, all of which were delivered by 2023. As the ITER project progresses towards its goal of demonstrating the feasibility of fusion energy by its targeted operational startup in 2035, MHI remains committed to advancing its contributions to the project and supporting the design and development of subsequent fusion reactor prototypes.

Fusion energy holds the promise of addressing global energy and environmental challenges by harnessing the same processes that power the sun—fusing light atomic nuclei into helium while emitting no carbon dioxide. The potential for utilizing seawater-derived fuels, such as tritium and deuterium, positions fusion as a sustainable energy source for the future. With Japan as a key participant in this international megaproject, MHI's role is crucial in moving towards a new era of clean energy production.