The Fusion Energy Race: ITER to KSTAR — 2026-10-17
General Fusion achieved a world-first milestone by sustaining electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV in its LM26 machine, validating its magnetized target fusion approach. Meanwhile, China’s BEST fusion facility completed critical component deliveries and site commissioning, advancing toward a 2030 power demonstration, while three US startups in the DOE Milestone program reported progress on commercialization pathways.
The Fusion Energy Race: ITER to KSTAR — 2026-10-17
Top developments
General Fusion Breaks 1 keV Barrier in LM26
On or around October 15, 2026, Canadian startup General Fusion announced that its LM26 machine achieved electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV (approximately 12 million degrees Celsius), a critical threshold for fusion-relevant plasma conditions. This result, independently verified by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), marks the first time a magnetized target fusion device has reached this temperature regime using mechanical compression. The achievement validates a core component of the company’s path toward a first-of-a-kind power plant targeted for around 2035.
China’s BEST Facility Site Commissioned and Components Delivered
In early October 2026, China officially commissioned the engineering site for its BEST (Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak) fusion facility in Hefei. This milestone follows the batch delivery of Toroidal Field (TF) coil boxes, essential for generating the magnetic fields required to confine plasma. With assembly advancing, China maintains its aggressive timeline to demonstrate fusion power generation by 2030 and build a demonstration reactor by 2035, positioning itself as a direct competitor to ITER’s delayed schedule.
DOE Milestone Program Reports Progress from Three Startups
On October 13, 2026, the US Department of Energy provided updates on three companies participating in its Milestone program, highlighting progress in fuel cycle and instrumentation challenges. While specific financial figures were not detailed in the brief updates, the program is designed to accelerate private fusion companies toward commercial viability by providing access to national lab resources and structured technical reviews. These updates signal continued federal support for the private sector’s push to complement public projects like ITER.
Local view
In China, state media and technical reports emphasized the strategic importance of the BEST facility’s site commissioning, framing it as a key step in the national "15th Five-Year Plan" which designates fusion as a future industry. Local coverage highlights the collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics and industrial partners to overcome manufacturing bottlenecks for superconducting magnets.
Context & numbers
- General Fusion Temperature: >1 keV electron temperature achieved in LM26.
- BEST Timeline: Site commissioned October 2026; power demonstration target 2030.
- ITER Status: No new schedule updates were issued this week; the project remains on the 2035/2039 baseline established in late 2024/early 2025.
- Fusion Fuel Revenue: Fusion Fuel AB reported H1 2026 results with expected full-year revenue growth of 11–25%, reaching €16–18 million.
On the radar
- ITER Council Meeting: The ITER Council is expected to meet in November 2026 to adopt an updated project baseline with sufficient detail for nuclear operation, following requests made earlier in the year.
- General Fusion Next Milestone: The company has stated it is upgrading the LM26 machine to target a 10 keV electron temperature in future campaigns.
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