Old dogs, new tricks

Fusion for Energy—the European Union organization managing Europe’s contribution to ITER—is organizing an Energy Summer School at its headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, from 15 to 19 June 2026. 

The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of topics, beginning with energy fundamentals and the operation of electrical grids, and extending to the study of diverse energy sources, their environmental impact, and the geopolitics of energy. The objective is to equip participants with the knowledge and the analytical tools necessary to understand the complexity of today's energy challenges, while preparing them to contribute effectively to the sustainable transition of our societies.

The summer school is designed for European Union citizens attending PhD or Master's courses in engineering, natural sciences, economy or political sciences. Whether you hope to work in engineering, science, finance, procurement, policymaking or communication, the program will provide insight into the technical, environmental, and regulatory dimensions that drive investment decisions, supply strategies, and political agendas.  

More information about applying to the program can be downloaded here. Applications close on 31 March.

Originally filmed on site at ITER in May 2025, this video has been updated with new footage of the tokamak pit from December (1:14–2:12). A third of the ITER plasma chamber is now in place, and the installation of a fourth sector is imminent. Fly above, and into, the modules of the ITER vacuum vessel, or—if you haven't already seen it—watch the rest of the video to see how the ITER machine and plant are coming together on a 180-hectare site in southern France.

See the updated video on the ITER YouTube channel.

The final design review has been completed and manufacturing of Europe’s first ITER gyrotrons is set to begin. This marks another key milestone for the Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) system that will be used to heat the ITER plasma to more than 100 million degrees Celsius and sustain fusion reactions.

Gyrotrons essentially convert electricity into high-frequency microwaves that will transfer energy to plasma electrons once injected into the tokamak. Initially, there were plans for 24 gyrotrons at ITER and the European Domestic Agency, Fusion for Energy, was responsible for supplying six of them through a contract with Thales. However, when the new baseline was introduced in 2024, the number of gyrotrons was increased to 48 at the Start of Research Operation phase, with another 24 scheduled to be added once deuterium-tritium testing begins. With the wider use of gyrotrons, Europe will produce more units.

Learn more about the preparations for gyrotron manufacturing here.

(Pictured is work on the gyrotron prototype done in 2022.) 

Under the editorial lead of EUROfusion, the ITER Engineering Basis Handbook delivers a stand-alone compilation of ITER design principles, the underlying technical design basis and its evolution from conception to construction, together with the technical, scientific, and regulatory rationale behind the major decisions. It facilitates the access and understanding of the project’s technological journey by consolidating the information from a multitude of sources. It aims at securing the lessons learned, the return of experience, and the knowledge transfer from the world's largest fusion project, drawing from the direct experience of knowledgeable experts who have worked on ITER, for the benefit of fusion professionals inside and outside of the ITER project and the next generation.

See the first chapters of Volume 1, "Genesis, Design and Evolution" on the ITER Technical Reports pages of the public website.