Story perspectives

China's Huanliu-3 Achieves Major Nuclear Fusion Milestones

10/20/2025

Summary

Story summary

Huanliu-3 (HL-3) opened for global collaboration in December 2023, establishing an international research platform.
By 2024, Huanliu-3 achieved plasma current operations exceeding 1.5 million amperes.
In March 2025, Huanliu-3 reached ion temperatures of 117 million degrees Celsius and electron temperatures of 160 million degrees.
This progress indicates that China's nuclear fusion efforts have entered the burning plasma experiment phase and demonstrates the country's commitment to developing fusion energy.

History

Historical Context

The Soviet Union's T-15 tokamak, operational from 1988 to 1995, was a pioneering fusion reactor that utilized superconducting magnets, achieving significant plasma confinement. In 2020, China's HL-2M reactor marked a new era in fusion research, achieving its first plasma discharge. By 2021, China's EAST set a world record for superheated plasma, demonstrating advancements that could revolutionize sustainable energy production.

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Story summary

Huanliu-3 (HL-3) opened for global collaboration in December 2023, establishing an international research platform.
By 2024, Huanliu-3 achieved plasma current operations exceeding 1.5 million amperes.
In March 2025, Huanliu-3 reached ion temperatures of 117 million degrees Celsius and electron temperatures of 160 million degrees.
This progress indicates that China's nuclear fusion efforts have entered the burning plasma experiment phase and demonstrates the country's commitment to developing fusion energy.

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