Fusion Fuel to Be Stored in Solid Form... Core ITER Storage Vessel to Be Manufactured Domestically

Iljin Power and AzenCore to Produce 28 Storage Vessels
ITER Procurement to Be Completed by 2030

A core component of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which safely stores tritium and deuterium used for fusion power and supplies them when needed, will be manufactured in South Korea. The device, which stores the gaseous fusion fuel by reacting it with depleted uranium and keeping it in solid form, will be handled entirely by a domestic company, from design to manufacturing and testing.

On August 12, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy announced that it had signed a contract with a consortium of Iljin Power and AzenCore for the "Design and Manufacturing of ITER Tritium Storage and Supply Vessels" at its main office in Daejeon.

Tritium Storage and Supply System (SDS). Provided by the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy

The Tritium Storage and Supply System (SDS) is a key subsystem within ITER’s fuel cycle system, responsible for the safe storage and supply of tritium and deuterium—the fusion fuels for ITER—as well as managing the intake and output of fuel and measuring inventory levels.

The storage vessels to be manufactured this time will store gaseous tritium and deuterium by reacting them with depleted uranium and converting them into a solid form. When fuel is needed, it will be reheated and converted back into a gas for supply. Because these devices handle fusion fuel directly, the highest levels of safety and reliability are required.

South Korea is responsible for the final design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of the SDS under the procurement agreement signed with the ITER International Organization in March 2025. The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy is promoting SDS procurement by dividing the system and storage vessel fields. While the system design and manufacturing phase began in May, the signing of this contract marks the official launch of storage vessel production.

Production of 28 Storage Vessels... Laying the Foundation for Korea’s Fusion Reactor Technology

The contract covers the design of the storage vessels, production of 28 prototypes and final products, inspection and testing, as well as securing and operating the dedicated production facility. The goal is to complete final design approval by 2027 and finish the ITER procurement by 2030.

Iljin Power, which has expertise in manufacturing nuclear pressure vessels, and AzenCore, with a track record in nuclear material facility licensing and safety management, have formed a consortium to execute the project.

The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy expects that, through this project, domestic companies will gain experience in designing and manufacturing fusion fuel storage vessels in line with ITER’s rigorous safety and quality standards, as well as in operating dedicated facilities. This goes beyond fulfilling ITER procurement, as it also lays the groundwork for the domestic production of fuel cycle equipment needed for future Korean-model advanced fusion reactors and commercial fusion plants.

Lee Hyungon, Head of the ITER Korea Project Group, said, “Storage vessels that handle fusion fuel directly are core devices that require both advanced technical capabilities and the highest level of safety and reliability. We will do our utmost, working closely with the participating companies, to ensure a successful procurement in line with ITER’s quality standards and the planned schedule.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.