Nuclear Fusion on Earth: ITER, Stellarators and the Global Quest for Clean, Limitless Energy

DW explores the global race to harness fusion energy, from ITER's massive tokamak to Germany's Wendelstein 7X stellarator and a wave of private startups. The film outlines how fusion aims to deliver safe, low-carbon electricity, the science of magnetic confinement, and the engineering and policy hurdles on the path to a commercial fusion power plant by the 2040s. It also highlights the scale of investment, international collaboration, and the potential for energy independence and climate impact reduction.

Overview

Fusion energy is presented as a potentially inexhaustible, low-carbon source of electricity built on the same basic physics that powers the sun. The documentary explains the difference between fusion and fission, and how scientists seek to recreate sun-like conditions on Earth using magnetic confinement in devices called tokamaks and stellarators. It introduces ITER, the largest fusion project in the world, and contrasts it with the stellarator approach exemplified by Wendelstein 7X in Germany. The film also surveys the growing private fusion sector and discusses the economic, regulatory, and workforce challenges ahead.

Key Concepts and Players

The core technologies explored include magnetic confinement fusion, the tokamak design used at ITER, and the stellarator design used at Wendelstein 7X. The narrative follows the assembly of ITER’s vacuum vessel, the role of superconducting magnets including the central solenoid, and the engineering feats required to construct a reactor the size of a building. It also looks at the private sector, with startups like Proxima Fusion and Gauss Fusion aiming to translate research into grid-scale power plants. The piece emphasizes collaboration across the U.S., Europe, Russia, China, and other partners, and discusses regulatory and public acceptance issues that fusion must address to become a mainstream energy source.

Implications

As the documentary argues, fusion could provide a stable, non-emitting energy base load for a growing population, potentially reducing dependence on fossil fuels and enabling broader energy access. However, it stresses that bringing fusion to the grid requires sustained funding, regulatory clarity, and breakthroughs that allow reactors to be built and operated reliably at scale. The film concludes by considering the pace of innovation needed to meet climate targets and the potential societal benefits of a fusion-powered future.