ITER Magnet Cold Test Facility Begins Operations — TF Coil #07 Successfully Cooled to 4 Kelvin

The ITER Organization announced on June 1, 2026 that its magnet cold test facility is fully operational, enabling pre-installation verification of all superconducting magnets at their designated cryogenic operating conditions (4 Kelvin / −269°C) and full rated current (68 kA). The facility tests each coil's high-voltage ground insulation, quench detection circuitry, cryogenic performance, electrical interfaces, and internal joint behavior before installation in the tokamak — a critical risk-reduction step that was not possible in the original construction sequence. On May 21, the first coil to undergo the full protocol — TF07, weighing 330 metric tonnes — was successfully cooled to 4 Kelvin and passed all benchmarks. ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi stated: 'Using the capabilities of our cryoplant, we have created a practical way to reduce risk before integrated commissioning.' After ITER completes its magnet qualification program, the facility will be made available to private fusion sector researchers through ITER's Private Sector Fusion Engagement project — making it an industry-wide resource. The development supports ITER's Baseline 2024 milestones: research operations beginning 2034, full magnetic energy 2036, and D-T burning plasma 2039.