The Project

Site Infrastructure

Vast infrastructure works have been carried out on the ITER site to support the operation of the ITER machine and plant systems, and establish the required amenities for a site workforce of thousands.

Within the framework of a site adaptation contract signed by the European Domestic Agency, civil engineering works have been carried out to deliver a fully integrated drainage system (process discharges, precipitation drainage and runoff water); install lighting; create network service trenches; and create the roads and parking areas for access to (and around) the ITER site.

As part of its commitment to ITER, France installed and financed the ITER switchyard and 400 kV power-line extension. The switchyard, which was "powered on" in June 2012, remains under the responsibility of France's electricity carrier RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité); ITER's jurisdiction begins just outside the switchyard fence, where seven transformers and several circuit breakers will be installed to "bring down" the voltage to 66 and 22 kV for distribution to the various plant systems of the ITER installation.

In the southwest corner of the ITER platform, a contractor area is host to the construction companies or consortiums that have been awarded work contracts by the European Domestic Agency. In this 3,500-square-metre zone, individual lots have been allocated to the companies for offices, workshops, equipment storage and comfort facilities. Also in this area: a worksite canteen, an onsite infirmary, and offices for the Architect/Engineer ENGAGE and the health and safety protection firm Apave (see more on these contracts here).

The first completed components were delivered to the site in 2014; the rhythm of deliveries has only accelerated since. To safely store the components until they are needed for assembly, a number of storage facilities have been installed in different areas of the site, including a 9,000 m² warehouse and logistics centre behind the platform for the storage of medium-sized components.

Photo Gallery

Radiofrequency Building: ECRH only

2024-11-04 - Due to a planned upgrade of electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) from 20 MW to 67 MW, the Radiofrequency Building will now only house ECRH equipment. A building for ICRH heating (ion cyclotron resonance heating) will be constructed on the other side of the Assembly Hall.

Longstanding crane dismantled

2024-04-03 - Erected in 2014 to construct the Tokamak Complex, crane C2 is dismantled in early April after 10 years of service. The 84-metre-tall crane operated continuously, for two or three shifts per day (16-24 hours), with no accident or major lift incident.

Switchyard at dusk

2024-02-08 - ITER's electrical switchyard, photographed at the end of the day.

Mammoth

2024-02-08 - One worker in an orange jacket provides the scale we need to understand the size of some of the ITER buildings.

Reactive power compensation

2023-09-28 - The reactive power compensators area accommodates reactors, capacitors, resistors and sensors that aim to smooth the flow of AC current both inside the ITER installation and in the immediate vicinity. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Hovering over the assembly theatre

2023-09-27 - The drone hovers above the different "extensions" of the assembly theatre: left, the Cleaning Facility; bottom right, the Radiofrequency Building; top right, the now-completed Tritium Building. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

More bridges

2023-09-26 - Two bridges are in construction to link the Magnet Power Conversion buildings (left) to the Tokamak Complex. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

New bridges

2023-08-29 - In addition to the cryobridge (foreground, for the distribution of cryogenic lines) there are now two other bridges spanning the main boulevard of the platform They are busbar bridges, for the transport of electrical busbars from the Magnet Power Conversion buildings to the Tokamak Complex.

Inside the cryobridge

2023-08-29 - In order to connect the cryolines coming from the cryoplant to those already installed in the Tokamak Building, the cryobridge runs for 130 metres, first crossing the boulevard and then making a sharp left turn to run along the Assembly Hall. This employee is inside the cryobridge, walking towards the cryoplant.

New buildings emerge

2023-08-29 - The concrete facade of the Tokamak Complex is now obscured by the High Voltage Building for neutral beam power supply (black, centre). Other fast-evolving features on the platform include the structure of a new bridge for the transfer of electrical power to the magnets (right) and the low-voltage Neutral Beam Power Supply Building (left).

Overhead

2023-06-20 - The completed cryobridge is 13 metres above the platform. Two other bridges along this road will house electrical busbars (one can be seen in construction in the background).

Bridge with an angle

2023-05-04 - A covered bridge runs 70 metres from the cryoplant to the Assembly Hall, before abruptly turning left at a 90-degree angle to run parallel to the Assembly Hall for another 60 metres in order to reach the Tokamak Complex. Its purpose? To carry gas and liquid helium to "clients" (superconducting magnets, thermal shield, cryopumps).

Sturdy yet flexible

2023-05-04 - Cryogenic process lines will be sheltered in this cryobridge, designed to withstand 200 tonnes of dead load and the "pushing and pulling" of the lines.

Welcoming visitors on site

2023-04-01 - The ITER Visitors Centre dominates the work site, and is a good place to start for visitors. (Pictured, a member of the French science association "Les Petits Débrouillards" ("Little Crafty Ones") during a display of magnetism at ITER's Open Doors Day event on 1 April.)

The Visitors Centre

2023-04-01 - Inside the Visitors Centre there are lots of ways to learn more about ITER--films, posters, mockups ... and of course the explanations of volunteer guides!

From above

2023-03-17 - The ITER site seen from above in March 2023.

From the east

2023-03-17 - The ITER site seen from the east in March 2023.

New building emerging

2022-11-29 - Against the concrete structure of the Tokamak Complex, the frame of a new building is emerging: the tall High Voltage Building that will house the high voltage equipment for neutral beam injection. See more information at: /construction/NeutralBeamPower.

Late 2022

2022-11-22 - The ITER construction site, in late November 2022.

Laboratory facility, open since January 2022

2022-10-15 - Facility Management Officer Guillaume Roux was involved in every stage of development of this new 740m² laboratory facility on site, which will be used both by the vacuum and tritium teams.

Three in a row

2022-10-04 - Three bridges will cross over this major artery of the ITER worksite: the cryobridge (in construction, pictured) and two bridges from the Magnet Power Conversion buildings (background, with the black boxes as starting points).

First bridge on site

2022-08-30 - Three bridges will cross this major artery on the ITER platform. The first, connecting the cryoplant to the Tokamak Complex, is under construction now.

Right angle

2022-08-30 - To reach and enter the opening in the concrete wall of the Tokamak Complex, the cryobridge has to make a 90-degree turn. This has added complexity to the design of the structure, as the pressurized flow of cryogenic fluids at this location will cause intense traction forces.

Touring operational units

2022-07-06 - The compressed air and demineralized water units of the Site Services Building are in operation. Commissioning Coordinator Adrien Deydier is seen here giving a facility tour to management.

June view

2022-06-08 - From the roof of ITER Headquarters, the Tokamak Complex stands out as the major feature of the ITER construction site. After a pause while European construction teams concentrated on delivering the Tokamak Building crane gallery (centre), work is proceeding at level L4 of the Tritium Building (located to the left of the Tokamak Building). On the right side of the Complex, behind the red crane, infrastructure for neutral beam power supply is emerging.

Switchyard emerges

2022-05-05 - In a four-hectare area on the southwest portion of the platform, pylons are installed for the RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Electricité) switchyard that will deliver power from the French grid to the ITER facilities.

Neutral beam heating power supply: buildings rising

2022-04-25 - From the roof of the Diagnostics Building, we are looking directly down at the site of the future ITER Neutral Beam Power Supply buildings, currently under construction by European Domestic Agency (Fusion for Energy) contractors.

Roads finalized

2022-04-25 - This paved road running to the east of the Tokamak Complex is one of the last to be realized under Fusion for Energy's TB16 contract, which covered the realization of service trenches, precipitation drainage, and site adaptation works such as roads and lighting.

Coming out of the ground: Neutral Beam Power Supply buildings

2022-02-21 - Not often seen from above: the neutral beam power supply buildings, which are under construction next to the Tokamak Complex. Work on the foundations is advancing well.

New laboratory building on site

2022-01-03 - This 700 m² facility will be equipped for vacuum and tritium laboratory activities, including the assembly and testing of delivered components, performance trials, welding and grinding and maintenance. It was erected in just one year.

Control Building: 24-hour presence

2021-12-08 - The Control Building, going up now on the ITER site, will be the daily work environment for the operators, researchers, and engineers running ITER physics experiments or the routine 24-hour operation and control functions of the machine and plant.

Neutral beam power supplies

2021-10-25 - In front of the Diagnostics Building, construction is underway on two new buildings dedicated to the power supplies for the neutral beam injection system.

Neutral beam power supply

2021-05-05 - In front of the Tokamak Complex, work is underway on two buildings that will host the ITER neutral beam power supply installation and its array of transformers, generators, rectifiers, inverters and other exotic electrical devices designed to feed 1 MeV ultra high voltage to the injectors—something that is ''outside and beyond anything that's ever been done in terms of electrical engineering.''

Starting on the Control Building

2021-04-30 - Work has started on the site of the ITER Control Building. A tunnel (and bridge) connect the ITER Control Building with Headquarters.

New construction zone for neutral beam power

2021-02-26 - Between the Tokamak Complex and ITER Headquarters, a new construction project is underway. Two buildings and a technical zone for the neutral beam power supplies are planned. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Rooftop HVAC installation

2021-01-25 - All HVAC equipment has now been installed on the roof of the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building.

Work begins on a new set of buildings

2021-01-21 - On a level area in front of the Tokamak Complex, karst investigation and excavation has started for a series of buildings (two buildings and one technical area) that will be dedicated to the power supply of the neutral beam heating system.

TAPB building, finished on time

2021-01-08 - The Tokamak Assembly Preparation Building (TAPB) construction team completed this building to nuclear specifications in nine months. The team was recognized by a 2020 ITER Award, winning in the "Balance-of-Plant Systems" category in December.

Still in its cocoon

2020-12-22 - The cryostat upper cylinder is still waiting in its protective cocoon to be called into the Assembly Hall. The lower cylinder was installed in August 2020. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Space needed

2020-12-22 - The need for storage and workshop spaces is high on the ITER site and every ounce of space must be utilized. This additional building just went up near the European Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Under the surface

2020-12-22 - Our eyes are mostly focused on work happening above the platform ... but a lot is happening just under the surface to ensure that power, water and services are distributed around the platform. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

New structures

2020-11-24 - On the northeastern corner of the platform, several new structures have emerged. Left: the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building; right: a new storage facility. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Preparations underway for a new building

2020-10-20 - Near the Assembly Hall, groundwork has started for a new building that will house electrical switching equipment. Contractors are drilling regular holes to check for karsts (fissures) in the bedrock.

TAPB: fully erected

2020-10-12 - In a northeastern corner of the platform, not far from the Assembly Hall, the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building is fully erected. It is a one-story building, with a full basement.

Managing AC current

2020-10-04 - What can be contained in a medium-size building in a steelworks or other heavy industrial facility requires a one-hectare yard at ITER. Adjacent to the Reactive Power Control Building (background), the reactive power compensators area accommodates reactors, capacitors, resistors and sensors that aim to smooth the flow of AC current both inside the ITER installation and in the immediate vicinity.

ITER fully connected

2020-09-30 - Three 400 kV transformers for the pulsed power electrical network (PPEN) have been energized. Going forward, the French operator RTE considers ITER as fully connected and operational, with all seven ITER connections at the 400kV level in operation. (There are three transformers for the pulsed power network and four for the steady state electrical network.)

Machining workshop installed on site

2020-09-22 - The new workshop will be operated by the DYNAMIC consortium, which was formed to execute one of ITER's two main machine assembly contracts, TAC2 (Tokamak Assembly Contract 2). The workshop will be a space for repairs and retrofitting, and boasts two milling machines, a large CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machine, and spaces for welding and metrology.

Over the platform

2020-09-04 - From the roof of the Tokamak Building, looking in the northeast direction towards the new beryllium storage facility (also called the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Small building rising

2020-08-03 - The Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building (TAPB) is rising in one corner of the ITER platform. Destined to receive and store beryllium components in the future, it will first be used for assembly prep activities.

Pouring has started

2020-08-03 - A full basement and one floor—the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building is going up not far from the Assembly Hall.

Walls rise for beryllium storage building

2020-06-15 - The building in the foreground will be used down the road to store ITER blanket components containing beryllium. Up to then, it will serve as another assembly preparatory building (hence its name: the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building, or TAPB). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Finding your way on site

2020-06-08 - To identify the buildings and technical areas of the ITER site, please see this article: /newsline/-/3451.

First magnet on site

2020-04-17 - The first ITER magnet to arrive on site—toroidal field coil #12, procured by Europe—is delivered to a temporary building (background) where it will be prepared for lifting and handling.

75% of the way there

2020-03-03 - The civil structures of the ITER site are constructed under the responsibility of Fusion for Energy, the European Domestic Agency, in conjunction with its Architect Engineer ENGAGE. Seventy-five percent of the civil work required by First Plasma has been completed. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

From the north

2020-02-25 - The ITER site is photographed by drone in late February 2020. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Basemat completed on new building

2020-02-15 - The basemat for the beryllium handling facility (also called the Tokamak Preparatory Activities Building) is in place and contractors are installing rebar. The building will have a full basement and one floor. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Excavated and waiting

2020-01-29 - The largest construction project left to realize on the ITER site is the Hot Cell Facility, which will rise in this excavated area next to the Tokamak Building. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Radio Frequency Building

2020-01-29 - The structure of the three-floor Radio Frequency Building is in place, and equipment will begin arriving this summer. The ground floor (pictured) will house 12 power supplies for 24 gyrotons (external heating devices). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Stored on site

2020-01-20 - The cryostat lower cylinder, cleaned and stored in protective wrapping on the construction platform, will soon be joined by the upper cylinder. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Powering the facility

2020-01-08 - A vast electrical switchyard occupies the southern third of the construction platform to transform 400 kV current from the French electrical grid into the pulsed power required by the machine, or the steady state power required by the installation. The commissioning of the electrical distribution networks has proceeded on pace with needs.

Site south

2020-01-08 - Much of the central area of the platform is dedicated to electrical power, with two identical buildings for magnet power conversion (centre), a small facility for reactive power compensation (further along to the right) and as yet unbuilt structures to house the neutral beam power supplies. Also visible is the European magnet winding facility (far left) and the ITER cryoplant (left).

A view of the future Control Building

2019-12-16 - ITER's main control room will be situated in a non-nuclear structure on the northern corner of the platform. Work will begin on the structure in 2020. © Enia Architectes, France

Optimizing space

2019-12-04 - Every corner of the ITER platform has been optimized. In this photo, we see the excavation underway for the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building (left), a storage tent, and a smaller rectangular building dedicated to preparatory activities on the toroidal field coils. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Lots of electricity

2019-10-24 - The electrical substation takes up nearly half of the ITER site. Across the middle is a row of transformers—four for the steady state electrical network and three larger transformers for the pulsed power electrical network (PPEN) that will feed the magnets and heating systems during operation. The first PPEN transformer will be connected to the grid next month. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Power Supplies Distribution Building

2019-10-15 - The Power Supplies Distribution Building is handed over by the European Domestic Agency to the ITER Organization in October. The equipment will contribute to distributing the current for activities across the worksite. ©F4E

Another red and white crane

2019-09-25 - At the end of this alley of transformers, is the giant crawler crane that has been installed to lift the elements of the Tokamak Building roof. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Tall enough

2019-09-25 - The boom of the new crawler crane reaches more than 100 metres. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A new project

2019-08-28 - Work has begun on the foundations of the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building, where beryllium components will be handled and stored after their delivery to the ITER site. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A last free corner

2019-08-28 - One of the last free spots on the platform—on the northern tip—is reserved for the Control Building. Work is scheduled to begin next year. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

New arrivals on the platform

2019-08-28 - These alien-looking objects are harmonic filters, part of ITER's reactive power compensation and harmonic filtering system. This unique system is responsible for fast-acting reactive power compensation on the high-voltage electricity transmission network, in order to stabilize the power grid and provide the required quality of electrical power to operate ITER. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

The view late August

2019-08-28 - Looking south over the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility (red top), the ITER cryoplant, and one of the two buildings for magnet power conversion. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Storage on the hill

2019-06-19 - Contractors have erected a new storage facility on the hill behind ITER for the many pipes that are being delivered for ITER's cooling water networks. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Extending storage capacity

2019-06-17 - Sitting on compacted backfill from the early worksite excavation works, the low black-clad building is ITER's largest warehouse. It provides a total of 15,000 m² of storage (9,000 m² internal, 6,000 m² external) and accommodates medium-size components waiting to be integrated into the ITER machine and plant systems. A recently erected structure in the background will provide racking for the storage of pipe lengths.

Bridges planned

2019-06-17 - The central area of the ITER construction houses facilities for magnet power conversion (two buildings, left) and cryogenics (right). Overhead bridges will be installed between these buildings and the Tokamak Complex (grey concrete) for the transport of power and cryogens like liquid helium. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Cooling towers, from above

2019-06-17 - The infrastructure of the ITER cooling tower area, with 10 individual cells, is advancing on the northern corner of the ITER worksite. Large updraft fans will be installed in September. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Architect's rendition

2019-05-14 - An architect's rendition of the Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building, which will be erected before summer 2020 on the northeastern corner of the ITER construction platform.

New building, two purposes

2019-05-14 - The Tokamak Assembly Preparatory Building will provide the space and systems to receive, transport, test, store, pre-assemble and export berylliated components. From 2020 to 2023—before those components arrive—the building will serve as part laboratory/part training facility for first-phase machine assembly activities. Excavation is underway on site.

State of play on the worksite

2019-04-15 - The ITER worksite. In steel grey: the completed buildings; in purple: buildings in progress; in blue: future buildings. © Fusion for Energy 2019

Late March 2019

2019-03-29 - Looking south over the ITER site from one of the Tokamak Complex cranes.

Three plant buildings handed over

2019-03-29 - The European Domestic Agency Fusion for Energy hands over three completed buildings to the ITER Organization in March: the twin Magnet Power Conversion buildings and a smaller facility for reactive power compensation. Equipment installation can now begin.

Ready to serve the installation in 2019

2018-12-12 - Installation works in the Site Services Building have been completed on time, despite a complicated context of limited space, numerous interfaces and coordination. Eight 25-tonne chillers are installed at right (plus their soft starters in yellow).

An unassuming name, a strategic building

2018-12-12 - Despite a rather unassuming name, the Site Services Building is a strategic resource for the entire installation, accommodating and distributing a large number of industrial support services and systems. All mechanical and electrical equipment (pumps, chillers, pressurizers, cabinets and chemical dosing systems) and relevant piping has been installed, and a series of hydrostatic tests have been completed successfully.

Important arteries

2018-12-03 - Cable drums are lined up outside of the ITER cryoplant, where tray laying and cable pulling activities are about to start. A total of 10,000 kilometres of cables will be needed at ITER to connect components, provide power and transmit data.

A special kind of house

2018-11-22 - This "electrical house" (E-houses) will accommodate dozens of instrumentation and control cubicles that relay orders from the control room to the installation's high voltage components. In November is transported to its final platform location.

Heating building

2018-10-03 - This building to the side of the Assembly Hall will contain the power sources and wave generators for two of ITER's external heating systems—the ion cyclotron and the electron cyclotron systems. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Gallery work

2018-09-05 - Service galleries for electricity and communication crisscross the platform at a depth of five metres. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Nice view

2018-08-22 - Looking out of the third floor of the Radio Frequency Building in August. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Plant system zone

2018-07-25 - Areas for cryogenics, magnet power conversion, and the arrival of electricity ... all in support of the ITER Tokamak. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Looking south

2018-07-25 - Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Looking north

2018-07-24 - Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Hot work in July

2018-07-23 - Asphalting the heavy-weight storage zone. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Special reinforcement

2018-07-23 - Outside of the Cryostat Workshop is an exterior storage area for heavy components. Asphalting has been going on all summer. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Inside the catacombs

2018-07-15 - Service galleries coming from three different areas of the platform join at a junction near the cryoplant. A five-kilometre network of underground service tunnels criss-crosses the ITER site to bring electricity and communications to the buildings.

Cable trays

2018-07-15 - Some of the first underground galleries on site (near the Tokamak Complex) have already been equipped with cable trays.

Managing the pieces

2018-05-17 - Logistics management is a critical activity for ITER. But the complexity of the machine and plant, the sheer amount of components to assemble, and the multiplicity of providers on three continents all make for a particularly daunting task at ITER.

On-site storage

2018-05-17 - Z2—the largest on-site warehouse—provides a total of 15,000 m² of storage (9,000 m² internal, 6,000 m² external).

Finished in 2017

2018-04-25 - Three of the structures that were completed in 2017 and made ready for equipment: (from left to right) the cryoplant and two buildings dedicated to magnet power conversion. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Reactive Power Compensation Building

2018-03-27 - This new building on the platform is part of the suite of buildings needed to house coil power systems. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Changing platform

2018-02-20 - Four gaseous helium storage tanks procured by Europe have been installed near the cryoplant. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Digging

2018-02-20 - Ground work is underway near the PPEN transformers (for Pulsed Power Electrical Network). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

One kilometre of construction

2018-01-19 - All of the ITER plant buildings are located on the level 42-hectare construction platform, which is one kilometre in length. In the early years of the construction project, deep galleries were created under the surface of the platform for storm water, run-off water, and technical services like electricity and water. Most of these galleries have now disappeared from view, but their role will be critical during ITER operation.

Limousine stop?

2018-01-19 - In front of the cryoplant (second building from the top) what looks like a theatre marquee, ready to shelter chauffeured limousines, is in fact a concrete platform that will support a 190,000-litre liquid helium tank—one of the 11 tanks that will be installed, either vertically or horizontally, along the building.

A good place for photos

2018-01-18 - As the Tokamak Complex rises there is less to see at ground level. One possible viewpoint for the visitor is the roof of the contractor parking garage, where this photo was taken.

New building

2018-01-16 - This small structure frames out the future pump house of the heat rejection system. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A small city?

2017-12-20 - This busy image, captured in December, makes the ITER construction site look like a small, bustling city. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Installation activities

2017-12-20 - The focus is turning to equipment installation for these three long buildings, as the structures themselves have reached an advanced level of maturity. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A consequential flow rate

2017-12-20 - Here is an especially large technical gallery heading out toward the heat rejection zone. The maximum total flow rate during operation toward this zone is 14 m³/s. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Crane installed in Radio Frequency Building

2017-12-19 - This girder is one of two that will be lifted to level 3 of the Radio Frequency Building and installed with a trolley to be used in the installation of radio frequency and microwave heating components.

Platform delivery

2017-12-19 - Two crane girders are delivered to the Radio Frequency Heating Building.

We have arrival

2017-12-19 - The first beam is detached from the crane and moved inside the building to make room for the delivery of the second.

Up we go

2017-12-19 - The beams are lifted to the third floor of the building, where the wave generators will be housed.

Snow on the rooftops

2017-12-05 - In December a light dusting of snow covered the rooftops of the cryoplant (left) and the Magnet Power Conversion building (right) for 24 hours. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Overview

2017-12-04 - Looking west over the ITER construction site, with a component storage area front left, and buildings from left to right: the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility (red trim), the Cleaning Facility, the cryoplant, the Assembly Hall, the Radio Frequency Heating Building, and the Site Services Building (long and low). Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

News from the Radio Frequency Building

2017-11-07 - Work is underway on the interior partitions and floors of the Radio Frequency Heating Building.

Technical galleries underway

2017-10-26 - Work is underway on—but also underneath—the ITER platform. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Distributing the power

2017-10-26 - A lot of work is underway on the technical galleries connecting the electrical switchyard to the Magnet Power Conversion buildings and others. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Waves generated here

2017-09-30 - Microwaves and radiofrequency waves generated in this building by the electron cyclotron and the ion cyclotron heating systems will travel along waveguides to the Tokamak. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

The e-zone

2017-08-29 - Between the electrical switchyard and the ITER buildings is a large zone dedicated to electricity, with transformers, substations, e-houses and technical galleries. Teams are hard at work in that area now. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Cladding advances in August

2017-08-29 - The cladding on the Radio Frequency Heating building (right) is filling in. Soon we'll have a trio of matching structures.

Small addition, southside

2017-08-29 - The small Main AC Current Building has received the same exterior treatment (alternating panels of stainless steel and grey lacquered metal) as the larger buildings of the facility. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

The Main AC Current Building

2017-08-29 - A new building has gone up on site, alongside the row of SSEN transformers (for steady state electrical network). Here's a peek inside. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Components stored outside

2017-08-29 - Two large sections of the ITER cryostat, the top lid (photo) and the upper cylinder (not pictured) are stored on the ITER platform in weather-tight coverings. Their size (30 metres in diameter) makes them easier to store outside than inside. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Cryo and conversion

2017-08-29 - On the left the cryoplant building is now fully framed out; on the right, the first bays have been created for transformers outside of Magnet Power Conversion building #1. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Contractors area

2017-08-29 - On this corner of the platform, companies or consortiums that have been awarded construction contracts by the European Domestic Agency have a small parcel of land for offices, comfort facilities and storage. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE.

Transformer row

2017-08-29 - In this picture, four transformers for the steady state electrical network are followed by three larger transformers for the pulsed power electrical network. The first group was procured by the United States; the second group was procured by China. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Something new on this side of the platform

2017-08-21 - A small building has gone up next to the electrical switchyard : the Main Alternating Current Distribution building. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Exterior storage

2017-08-21 - A few tanks await transport to the cryoplant in this triangular storage zone on the northeast side of the platform. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Services on site

2017-08-17 - The Site Services Building will accommodate a large chiller plant, a demineralized water plant and other industrial services. These pipes will help carry the chilled or demineralized water where it's needed.

Pipes and elbows

2017-07-13 - These supersize pipes (one metre and more in diameter) for the heat rejection system are designed for a flow rate of two cubic metres per second.

From the northeast

2017-07-12 - The Assembly Hall is joined to two smaller buildings: the Cleaning Facility (left) and the Radio Frequency Heating Building (right).

Midsection

2017-07-11 - To the south of the Tokamak Complex is the area reserved for: (top to bottom) the winding of poloidal field magnets (red-topped roof); the ITER cryoplant (in grey); and magnet power conversion (two buildings under construction). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A row of transformers

2017-07-11 - Separated by concrete walls are seven large transformers that will convert power from the high voltage line down to voltages that can be used by the installation. In the foreground, the last of three PPEN transformers delivered by China for the pulsed power electrical network is about to be installed in its bay. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

A postcard from ITER

2017-07-03 - A guide to ITER construction ...

Buried piping

2017-06-28 - Water will travel out of the cooling water loops of the Tokamak and its systems, through these 1.6-metre-in-diameter pipes, and on to the heat rejection system. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Exceptional transport

2017-06-22 - Snaking around the back of the platform, between the Cleaning Facility at left and the Cryostat Workshop plus Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility at right, is the transport convoy for an element of the cryoplant.

Activity is heating up

2017-06-14 - Workers install multiple layers of cladding to the metal structure of the Radio Frequency Heating Building.

Waiting to be installed

2017-06-14 - The preformed element will be installed in one of the upper levels of the ITER bioshield.

Buildings mushrooming

2017-06-08 - This June photo documents how far the ITER cryoplant (at right, fully clad) and the Radio Frequency Building (at left, partially clad) have come.

Checking the plans

2017-05-31 - Representatives of ENGAGE (architect engineer for the European Domestic Agency) and Ferrovial (part of the VFR consortium chosen to build the Tokamak Complex and eight other buildings) review plans. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

2017-04-27 - Pre-welding operations on cooling water piping in April. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Welding elbows

2017-04-27 - Segments of cooling water piping shipped from India are welded on site.© Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Temporary docking

2017-04-18 - This large transformer and its sister, delivered this week from China, are temporarily stored on the platform until permanent installation is possible.

Radio Frequency Building: starting to fit in

2017-04-10 - As the first layer of cladding is filled in, the RF Building is beginning to look at home with its neighbours (from left to right the Cleaning Facility, the Assembly Hall and the Site Services Building). Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

When a transformer purrs

2017-03-30 - On 30 March, electricity flows without a hitch from the grid substation to the 400 kV ITER switchyard, and from there into one of the four 22 kV worksite transformers. This "energization" will be repeated now for each of the three remaining 22 kV transformers of the steady state electrical network (SSEN).

Cladding activities to start soon

2017-03-22 - Scaffolding is in place for the start of Radio Frequency Building cladding activities. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Electrical works

2017-03-22 - Works continue to prepare the on-site electrical switchyard, including the "first energizing" procedure for the first of seven bays. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Hundreds of separate components

2017-03-22 - Bringing down the voltage from the 400 kV power line to a level useable by the ITER facilities takes a huge switchyard and hundreds of components. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Peeking inside

2017-03-22 - Close up to the three-storey Radio Frequency Building on the northern side of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

E-houses installed

2017-03-22 - Two E-houses for the pulsed power electrical network are now installed on site. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

(More) underground networks

2017-03-22 - Since 2012, teams have been working on the different underground networks of the platform. Four kilometres of networks are planned in all. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Creating floors and inner partitions

2017-02-28 - The three-storey Radio Frequency Building is going up against the northern face of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Good progress on the RF heating building

2017-01-25 - A view of the Radio Frequency Building, in late January. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Piping from India

2017-01-25 - Piping under Indian scope for the component cooling water, chilled water and heat rejection systems represents some 100 containers worth in all. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

From a nearby roof

2017-01-25 - This photo was taken from the roof of the Site Services Building, located just a few metres away. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

New project on the worksite

2017-01-25 - Work underway on the site of one of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Working toward energizing the switchyard

2017-01-20 - In close coordination with the French transmission system operator RTE the ITER Organization is now embarked on the step-by-step process that will lead to the "energization" of the ITER switchyard. Tests started in January on the first of the switchyard's seven bays.

Looking west

2017-01-12 - From left to right: the Cleaning Facility, the Assembly Hall, the Radio Frequency Building; the Site Services Building. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

From the sky

2017-01-12 - The technical areas of the ITER construction platform from bottom left to middle right: the transformers of the electrical switchyard; work underway on the technical galleries of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings; and the columns of the ITER cryoplant. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Dedicated to external heating sources

2017-01-12 - Powerful radio frequency waves will travel along waveguides through the Assembly Building in order to reach the tokamak. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Underground labyrinth

2017-01-12 - Digging continues on the underground technical galleries of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Landing pad for ITER

2017-01-12 - The worksite's sodium lights grow yellow at night, creating this futuristic image that brings to mind an intergalactic spaceport. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

An important neighbor

2016-12-19 - The Radio Frequency Building, now nearly framed out, will be 50 metres long, 43 metres wide and 25 metres tall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

The southern side of the platform

2016-12-19 - New projects are underway on the southern side of the platform. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Full of power supplies and generators

2016-12-19 - Originally planned for installation in the Assembly Hall, radio wave equipment for the electron and ion resonance heating systems will now have a building of its own: the Radio Frequency Building that is going up now against the north side of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Technical galleries

2016-12-19 - Contractors are creating technical galleries between the future Magnet Power Conversion Buildings (left) and the ITER cryoplant (right, with columns). Four kilometres of technical galleries will crisscross the ITER platform in all, just under the surface. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

Three floors planned

2016-12-19 - The first two floors of the building will be occupied by power supplies (a total input of 100 MW). The top floor will host the wave generators (gyrotrons and tetrodes). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

One winter evening

2016-12-13 - A fish-eye lens helps our photographer to capture the construction site across its entire breadth in December 2016.

Transformer bays

2016-12-12 - Four transformers procured by the US are now installed on the ITER platform. To the left, bays are ready to receive three larger transformers procured by China.

Worksite filling in

2016-12-02 - Separate construction projects are distinguishable from the air: the Tokamak Complex (lower left), the cryoplant (upper right), groundwork for the Magnet Power Conversion buildings (lower right).

Building delivered in 2017

2016-12-02 - Workers have begun installing the roof structure for the ITER cryoplant. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

As the lights come on

2016-11-14 - The ITER construction site in November, photographed from the roof of the Headquarters building.

Waiting for assembly to begin

2016-11-08 - Inside of the largest on-site storage facility, components shipped by the ITER Members are tagged and stored.

Just under the surface

2016-10-27 - Technical galleries under construction on the ITER worksite.

Planning for power conversion

2016-10-27 - On the worksite of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings, digging is underway for the electrical galleries.

The ITER construction platform

2016-10-07 - The ITER scientific facility is under construction on a 42-hectare platform in Provence, France, at 315 metres above sea level. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

First PPEN transformer installed

2016-10-06 - The first 280-tonne transformer for ITER's pulsed power network (PPEN) has been installed on site. Once equipped with additional components and filled with oil, this Chinese-procured component will weigh 460 tonnes. Two others like it will arrive at ITER in early 2017.

External heating to be housed here

2016-10-05 - The large opening in the reflective surface of the Assembly Hall is reserved for the Radio Frequency Heating Building, under construction now. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Serving the whole installation

2016-10-05 - The Site Services Building will host a chiller plant for cooling water as well as a demineralized water plant, air compressors and a maintenance and instrumentation workshop. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Components enter here

2016-10-05 - On the south side of the Assembly Hall, the Cleaning Facility will be the entry point for components. The building will function as an airlock to minimize the amount of dust from the platform that gets into the clean environment inside. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Come on down

2016-10-04 - Located next to the high voltage switchyard, these components will "bring down" the voltage to useable levels. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Transformer town

2016-10-04 - On the south end of the platform, five of seven transformers are in place for ITER's electrical networks (pictured: a US-procured transformer for the steady state electrical network). Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Electrifying

2016-10-04 - The very high voltage electrical substation on the south side of the platform was realized as part of France's commitment to ITER. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Storage warehouse in service

2016-10-04 - On the hill behind ITER, a large warehouse has been constructed for the storage of components delivered by the ITER Members. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Large transformer moved to permanent home

2016-10-04 - Three large transformers like this one will be part of the network that distributes pulsed power to the installation. The 280-tonne component was installed in its permanent "pit" on site. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Site work begins for Magnet Power Conversion buildings

2016-10-04 - In this vast area between the electrical switchyard and the Tokamak Pit, digging has started on the site of two Magnet Power Conversion buildings, which will house equipment for converting AC power to DC power for the superconducting magnet system. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Reserved for Chinese transformers

2016-09-28 - Two other large transformers have been fabricated in China for ITER. As we wait for their arrival, workers are preparing their on-site beds. © Les Nouveaux Médias/ENGAGE

High voltage park

2016-09-28 - The very high tension arriving along the 400 kV line will be converted in this area of the platform before being distributed to the ITER systems. ©F4E/LNM

Three zones in a row

2016-09-21 - On either side of the cooling water tower/basin worksite is the concrete plant (background) and the site of the future Control Room (foreground). © Les Nouveaux Médias/ENGAGE

Work in the 400kV switchyard

2016-09-21 - As the needs of the construction site ramp up, the project will require more electricity than the neighbouring CEA network can supply. The 400kV switchyard will be powered up by Europe during the first quarter of 2017 to supply the 22kV network on site. © Les Nouveaux Médias/ENGAGE

Servicing the site

2016-09-21 - Work continues on the inside of the Site Services Building, where the chiller room is now fully equipped. © Les Nouveaux Médias/ENGAGE

Largest storage facility

2016-09-21 - The 9,000 m² warehouse, built behind the construction platform, is already storing ITER components. © Les Nouveaux Médias/ENGAGE

On the inside of the Site Services Building

2016-07-26 - Work is underway on the interior fittings of the Site Services Building.

2016-07-20 - The frame of the Cleaning Facility is up on the eastern side of the Assembly Building.

Foundations underway

2016-07-19 - Work is underway on the foundations of the Radiofrequency Heating Building.

Looking northeast

2016-07-11 - The northern end of the ITER platform, with material storage areas in the foreground. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Late August

2016-07-11 - Despite the heat waves of July and August, progress made over the summer is observable in every corner of the ITER platform. The last major addition to the construction platform will be the Hot Cell Facility, a large building will go up where the two cranes are standing, at left.

Clean and white

2016-07-07 - Elements of the Cleaning Facility's structure permit to visualize the dimensions of the future building.

Activity all over the platform

2016-06-24 - Adjacent to the Site Services Building (completed, in background) work is underway on the foundations of the Radio Frequency Heating Building.

Preparing for the first Chinese transformer

2016-06-24 - Work is underway on the platform to prepare for the installation of the first PPEN transformer (for the pulsed power electrical network) delivered by China.

Excavation works

2016-06-24 - Digging continues on the site of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings in June.

Standing in wait

2016-06-24 - This is the first of three transformers delivered by China for ITER's pulsed power electrical network (PPEN). It is in temporary storage on the ITER platform while the transformer "pit" is readied.

Cleaning Facility

2016-06-14 - The frame is up for the Cleaning Facility, through which all components will pass before entering the Assembly Hall. The other opening in the Assembly Hall, at right, is reserved for the access of the radio frequency heating systems.

Magnet power conversion

2016-06-02 - Work will be starting soon in this area of the platform, reserved for the two Magnet Power Conversion buildings.

Backfilling underway

2016-02-24 - More than 4 km of technical galleries will run under the surface of the platform by the end of ITER construction. Backfilling is underway for the section of gallery that runs alongside the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility. Photo: ENGAGE

2016-02-16 - Cladding works on the Site Services Building are well underway. In June, contractors will begin installing electrical and mechanical service equipment. Photo: ENGAGE

On the site of the future cooling towers

2016-02-16 - On the north side of the platform, work has just begun on the site of the future cooling water basin and towers. Photo: ENGAGE

Site Services Building framed out

2016-02-04 - Work is ending on the cladding/roof of the Site Services Building (foreground). In May, contractors will begin installing HVAC and piping.

A new project on the platform

2015-12-01 - In December, excavation begins for one of the auxiliary buildings of the scientific facility—the Radio Frequency Heating Building (in the background: the frame of the Site Services Building). Photo: F4E

First walls for Site Services

2015-10-20 - The walls are rising for the 80-metre-long Site Services Building, which will furnish industrial services (chilled or demineralized water, compressed air) to the rest of the installation. Photo: F4E

Closing up the galleries

2015-10-20 - The last operation for these technical galleries running alongside the Poloidal Field Coils building will be to "close up the box." Photo: F4E

At your service

2015-10-14 - The Site Services Building will accommodate and distribute a large number of industrial support services that are indispensable for operating ITER. Among these, a chiller plant will feed cooling water to buildings through a four-kilometre network of piping. Concrete pouring for the 80-metre-long facility has started.

Projects mushrooming

2015-10-14 - Preparatory works have begun for the buildings that will house the giant magnets power conversion units. As for all other buildings, the process kicks off with "soil investigation," where long drill bits are pushed as much as 15 metres below the surface in order to identify possible discontinuities or cavities created by water erosion (karsts). Holes are bored approximately every five metres.

Four transformers installed

2015-10-14 - Transformers are made of hundreds of parts that can only be assembled once the main body is in its final position. After a few months of intensive work, the four SSEN 400kV transformers, part of the US procurement to ITER, are now fully assembled and filled with 60,000 litres of insulating oil each.

Galleries galore

2015-10-14 - Work on the platform technical galleries is not quite completed (here, "area 5" along the Poloidal Field Coils facility). In all, four kilometres of underground galleries will service the ITER scientific installation.

Inside

2015-09-16 - Inside of the storage facility, the first crates have been temporarily stored in one corner. The space will soon be fitted out with storage shelves and pallet racks.

Unloading docks and a mega door

2015-07-10 - On the north side of the warehouse, there are five unloading docks and one mega door (6m x 6m). Due to the slope of the access road (max 8%), the warehouse isn't designed for ITER's largest and heaviest components.

Blacktopping

2015-07-10 - Workers complete the blacktopping of the logistics platform.

Largest warehouse nearly completed

2015-07-10 - Construction activities are nearly over on the largest ITER warehouse—a 10,000 m² facility behind the ITER platform (160 metres long, 60 metres wide, 12 metres high).

Activity to commence in early 2016

2015-06-26 - The building will be ready to store its first components early next year. The zone is also equipped with a guardhouse (foreground), a parking lot, a storm basin sized for centennial rains (+20%) and a garage for six fork lifts.

Mega jolt

2015-06-09 - At 3:37 p.m. on Tuesday 9 June 2015, a monster bolt of lightning was captured on film as it zigzagged into - and out of - crane #2.

Transformer is equipped

2015-06-08 - The first transformer to be installed on the platform has been equipped with ancillary components (oil radiators, an oil conservator, and long ceramic insulators called "bushings"). In a final installation step, the transformer will be filled with the transformer will be filled with 60,000 litres of oil.

In place

2015-05-21 - The 87-tonne transformer sits over a 1.5-metre-deep, gravel-covered pit that has been dimensioned to receive the 44 cubic metres of oil the component contains (oil is used as an insulator) in case of a leak. Photo: F4E

First installed component of the ITER plant!

2015-05-21 - The first of four transformers for ITER's steady state electrical network is installed in its permanent location on 21 May 2015—the first installed component of the ITER plant.

Standing at attention

2015-04-21 - A dozen 400 kV electrical components for current and tension measurements are momentarily "stored" near the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility. Solidly bolted into concrete and installed vertically to preserve their oil-filled insulation system, they will be installed in their final location on the platform later in the year.

Site service building galleries: weathertight

2015-04-13 - The backfilling has been completed around the deep technical galleries of the Site Services Building and the last wall will be poured this month. Photo: Engage Consortium

87-tonne transformer

2015-04-09 - The 87-tonne transformer that will take its place here was procured by the US, manufactured in Korea, and delivered to the ITER site in January. Concrete pouring is nearly completed on the reinforcement wall and supports. Photo: Engage Consortium

First transformer pit

2015-04-07 - Near the 400 kV switchyard, a reinforced pit has been created for the first of four electrical transformers that will connect the switchyard to ITER's AC electrical distribution system. Photo: Engage Consortium

Service building

2015-03-26 - The Site Service Building is entirely framed out and clad. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE

The practical side of building ITER

2015-03-26 - In the contractors zone on the ITER platform, temporary offices have been erected by the construction consortiums (yellow and red buildings) and a full-service canteen (foreground) serves up to 1,000 meals per day.

A parking spot for a large electrical transformer

2015-02-13 - This concrete has been set into place to support the first of four electrical transformers that will connect the 400kV switchyard to the AC electrical distribution system. The 87-tonne transformer will be positioned shortly. Photo: F4E

A warehouse with a view

2015-02-12 - Looking out of the largest of four storage facilities that are under construction for the storage of ITER components.

Good progress this month

2015-02-12 - Work on the largest of four planned storage facilities is proceeding rapidly.

Up on the hill

2015-02-12 - Designed for the storage of medium-sized ITER components, the warehouse on the hill can be reached by a road through the forest.

Site Services building

2015-02-11 - In what will be the basement of the Site Services building, work is under way on technical galleries. Photo: F4E

Preparing the galleries

2015-02-11 - From these galleries, which run the length of the Site Services building, important industrial support services will be distributed to the ITER plant. Photo: F4E

Logistics centre

2014-12-19 - A new 150-metre long, 60-metre wide, 12-metre high storage facility is rising quickly on the back portion of ITER land.

Behind the hill

2014-12-18 - The two-hectare logistics platform will host the 9,000 m2 warehouse and an outdoor storage area. It is located on a stretch of land that was transferred from CEA to the ITER Organization in 2014.

Preparatory work for the Site Services Building

2014-12-03 - Under the future Site Services Building (utilities, fluid management), galleries have been dug, and reinforced, for the passage of piping. Photo: F4E

Temporary storage facility rising

2014-12-02 - Near the entrance to the ITER site, a new storage facility will soon be ready to receive components shipped from manufacturing sites in China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States.

More storage

2014-12-02 - Two other storage facilities are rising near the original ITER Headquarters building, to the south of the ITER platform.

Five building cranes now in place

2014-12-01 - Tokamak Complex construction will require at least four years. Five tall cranes are now in place around the Seismic Pit ... ready to deliver the materials to the wall construction site 12 metres below the level of the platform. Photo: F4E

Four out of five

2014-11-20 - Looking across the Assembly Building basemat toward Headquarters, we see that four of the five cranes for Tokamak Complex construction are in place. Photo: F4E

The workhorse of the worksite

2014-10-01 - Of the five cranes that are being installed for the construction of the Tokamak Complex, this will be the largest (85 metres) with a lifting capacity of 18 tonnes.

Facility will be in place end 2015

2014-09-26 - By the end of 2015, a climate controlled, steel-structure warehouse will be in place on a parcel of land behind the ITER platform. Half of its surface will be used for mass storage; the other half will be equipped with racks up to eight metres high for pallet storage.

From the air in April

2014-04-29 - A late April view of work on the platform. In the projection of the Tokamak Complex Seismic Pit, the long concrete slab of the Assembly Building stands waiting (with three cut-outs for specialized assembly tooling).

All in one frame

2014-04-29 - In this shot of the ITER platform, the progress that's been made on the installation is easy to measure. In the background: the cryostat and poloidal field magnets assembly facilities; in the centre: the Tokamak Complex Seismic Pit and adjacent Assembly Building; and in the foreground: ITER Headquarters.

New excavation

2014-04-12 - Excavation has ended for a concrete building designed for the distinct storage and handling requirements of ITER's beryllium components—in particular, the first-wall panels of the ITER blanket. But as these components are not expected on site before late 2024, the building will be used in the interim for Tokamak pre-assembly work. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche

Storage facility at ITER entrance

2014-03-01 - Work is currently underway to level a vacant lot at the entrance of Headquarters in order to build a 6,000 m² storage area.

Acrobatic work

2014-03-01 - Early in 2014 a telecommunications tower was installed on the ITER site, equipped with 2G and 3G technologies.

Reaching over the galleries

2014-01-22 - In the shadow, an example of the galleries that surround the Tokamak Complex. Pipes, cable trays and ducts servicing the machine will be housed here.

On-site contractors area

2013-11-29 - Below the ITER Visitors Centre are building consortium offices, and an infirmery and a canteen for the workers on the ITER site.

First contractor offices on the platform

2013-11-06 - In Contractors' zone on the southern end of the platform, the first modular building is going up. The main Tokamak Complex building contract will be piloted from here.

"À table"!

2013-10-31 - The worksite canteen is now open for business. At the peak of construction activities, 1,500 meals will be served here per day.

Settling in for a few years

2013-10-31 - All of the principle contracting companies will be issued an area on the platform where they can create their "home base" - an area for offices, storage shed, workshops and a few parking spaces.

Filling in

2013-09-26 - Work on the critical networks—the deepest networks on the ITER platform—ends in October 2013. The deep trenches that were a permanent feature on the platform for more than a year have now been filled in. Photo: F4E

New roads for the construction consortiums

2013-07-16 - Asphalt is poured in and around the new Contractors Area (CA2) where teams will soon settle in to manage the large construction contracts that have been awarded in the last six months.

End of the tunnel?

2013-07-01 - This tunnel, leading from the second floor of ITER Headquarters, will give scientists and technicians access to the Control Building situated on the north corner of the platform. For the moment, though, it sits waiting ...

She'll be coming 'round the mountain ...

2013-06-18 - The pipes of the precipitation overflow network are protected by concrete, before backfilling and levelling operations can begin.

Galleries and pipes finished in July

2013-05-21 - As the bottom slab (B2) of the Tokamak Complex takes shape, the realization of technical galleries around the Tokamak Building continues.

Backfilling is easier in clement weather

2013-05-21 - Backfilling operations continue after the heavy rainfall of mid-May. The deepest galleries will be filled over; at a later stage, digging will begin again for the cooling water pipes that will lead to and from the Tokamak Building.

Upheaval on the platform

2013-05-21 - All around the Tokamak Pit galleries are being dug for critical networks (heating, cooling, electricity). The excavated material is then used for backfill.

Platform networks

2013-05-21 - Hundreds of metres of concrete pipes (two-metres in diameter) have been installed for the platform's deep rainfall drainage network. The mountains of dirt will soon disappear: 80% of backfilling and levelling is now completed.

The deepest on-site networks

2013-05-20 - Crossing the platform between the Headquarters building and the Poloidal Field Coils manufacturing facility is part of the platform's deep precipitation network. Photo: F4E

Completing the technical galleries

2013-05-07 - Technical galleries are finalized all around the Tokamak Complex in May.

At the crossroads

2013-03-14 - The different stages of pipework are visible in this photo: galleries not yet filled in to the left, chimneys poking up from completed networks to the right. Photo: F4E

Almost ready

2013-03-14 - The worksite canteen will be ready to serve its first hungry clients in September 2013. In the swing of construction works, evening meals will be served as well as noon meals. Photo: F4E

A chimney here, a chimney there

2013-03-14 - Workers fill in the trenches for the overflow drainage network progressively, as sections of the network are completed. Regular chimneys (pictured) will provide access to the pipes for inspection. Photo: F4E

Compaction

2013-03-14 - The backfill around the drain pipes is filled in progressively and compacted in stages. Photo: F4E

Networks that are critical

2013-02-11 - Critical network piping will crisscross the ITER site for precipitation drainage and cooling water release. In this section of the network, the pipes have been installed and backfilling is underway.

Recycling materials

2013-02-07 - Material dug up from the drainage trenches on site is reused—once crushed into a finer ground—for backfill.

North of the Tokamak Complex

2013-02-07 - Galleries dug in February will service the Tokamak Complex in essentials like power and water.

2013-01-29 -

The southeast corner of the platform

2013-01-22 - Work progresses on Contractors Area 2 in January 2013. The area will be operational in March 2013.

These important networks will soon be covered over

2013-01-11 - With the piping in place, work continues now on cement casing and backfilling. Photo: F4E

Backfill operations

2013-01-11 - As the props are removed one by one, the excavated area around the precipitation drainage pipes is filled with backfill. Photo: F4E

Site works in January

2013-01-11 - Next to the large drainage network, concrete is drying around a smaller network of pipes. Photo: F4E

New contractor office building

2013-01-11 - By June, this office building for 50 and the surrounding parking areas must be completed for staff that will arrive to manage the construction of the Tokamak Complex. Photo: F4E

Ten metres underground

2012-12-19 - Section by section, piping is installed for the platform's precipitation overflow area. Photo: F4E

Critical services

2012-12-19 - Critical networks for Contractors Area #2 (sanitary, electrical, drinking water) are installed in December 2012. Photo: F4E

Temporary office structures

2012-12-19 - Modular offices for 50 people are positioned in the Contractors Area. Occupancy is expected in March 2013. Photo: F4E

Worksite canteen

2012-12-19 - Seventy modular buildings make up the worksite canteen, with a capacity to serve 1,500 meals per day. The canteen will be operational in September. Photo: F4E

Boxing in the pipes

2012-12-19 - Reinforcement and concrete pouring around the drainage network pipes is carried out in December 2012. Photo: F4E

Inside the canteen

2012-12-19 - The worksite canteen is scaled for 1,500 people. During the peak of construction activities, when over 3,000 workers are expected on site, certain construction companies will plan their own dining halls. Photo: F4E

Peak of construction activities beginning 2014

2012-11-16 - Each contractor will have a modular office and storage area on the ITER platform. Photo: F4E

Canteen to serve 1,500 meals

2012-11-16 - It will take 70 modular "cubes" to make up the contractors canteen (1,500 meals/day). The canteen will be up and ready for September 2013. Photo: F4E

Mountains of dirt

2012-11-16 - With work on the deep drainage networks and on Contractor Area 2, it's not as easy as it once was to see across the ITER platform. In the foreground, foundations are installed for the worksite canteen. Photo: F4E

Foundation work for modular buildings

2012-10-12 - Work progresses on Contractors Area 2—a 3,500 square-metre area that will be reserved for the companies participating in the peak construction activities of the next few years. Photo: F4E

Contractors area must be ready for March 2013

2012-10-12 - The corner of the platform reserved for contractor parking lots, modular buildings and storage areas. Photo: F4E

13,000 visitors

2012-10-12 - The ITER Visitors Centre stands on the hill overlooking the site (top right). Nearly 13,000 people came through this building in 2012. Photo: F4E

Evacuating rainfall

2012-10-12 - Pipes are installed for ITER's deep precipitation network. Photo: F4E

Trenches crisscross the platform

2012-10-12 - Deep underground networks are under preparation for the evacuation of run-off water. Photo: F4E

Latest cement production is for the Assembly Building worksite

2012-09-13 - ITER's cement batching plant is back in action in September 2012.

Evacuating the rainwater

2012-07-13 - Large concrete pipes, measuring up to 2.2 metres in diameter, will collect rainwater from the platform buildings, roads and trenches. The deep underground network is configured to handle the water flow coming from a "centennial rain"- extreme rainfall that statistically occurs only once every century.

2012-07-09 - The rainwater captured on the platform will be carried by underground networks to the storm basins located at the southwest corner of the site. Work on this drainage network begin in March 2012 and will be completed in November.

42 hectares in a glance

2012-07-03 - A panoramic view of the ITER worksite taken from the southwest corner of the platform.

Energizing ITER

2012-05-31 - Four years are necessary to bring the ITER switchyard to fruition. Beginning with technical and environmental studies and ending with 12 months of construction works, the realization of the RTE switchyard is part of France's commitment to the ITER project. Photo: F4E

Drainage water

2012-05-31 - Rows of drainage water pipes await assembly 8 metres below the level of the platform. Photo: F4E

Work begins on drainage

2012-05-31 - Work begins on the critical networks: the installation of 2.2-metre-diameter concrete pipes 10 metres below the surface of the platform. Photo: F4E

Trenches crisscross the site

2012-05-31 - Digging for the underground networks begins in March. The trenches are from 8-11 metres deep. Photo: F4E

Soon to be "powered up"

2012-04-20 - Installing and financing the ITER switchyard and power-line extension was part of France's commitment to ITER. The switchyard will be "powered on" in June. Photo: Engage-AP

Bird's-eye view

2012-04-20 - An image taken from a crane at the corner of the Tokamak Pit shows the RTE electrical switchyard (left) and the beginning of construction works (right) for a new contractor area (offices, parking lot, facilities). Photo: Engage-AP

Help from the sky

2012-02-08 - In difficult areas, helicopters are used to position temporary "pulling cables" that will later be attached to the actual power cables and pulled by a ground-based winch. Photo: © CEA/Corinne Guis

A sea of cables and wires

2012-02-07 - On the left, the "pantograph" has been deployed; on the right its articulated arms sit waiting. The 400kV pantographs connect the RTE busbars, source of high voltage current, to the ITER transformers.

120-tonne giant

2011-12-15 - The first 120-tonne pylon is erected in December 2011 by aerial acrobats; twelve more like this are necessary to link the ITER facilities to the 400 kV power line six kilometres distant.

43 metres tall

2011-11-23 - Electrical supply to the ITER site will be assured by an existing network that feeds the Tore Supra Tokamak; a one-kilometre extension will be enough to link the ITER machine into the network. Operating the ITER Tokamak will require from 120 MW to up to 620 MW of electricity for peak periods of 30 seconds.

Sky high

2011-11-15 - Work continues on the very high voltage electrical substation on the south side of the ITER platform.

Giant Erector Set

2011-11-10 - It will take 22 pylons to connect the ITER platform switchyard to the existing 400kV power line feeding the neighbouring Tore Supra installation at the CEA. Each 43-metre steel pylon weighs 100 tonnes.

Four hectares for the ITER transformers

2011-09-15 - The 22-metre pylons in the foreground support five-ton crossbars; from here, electricity will be directed toward seven 400 kV transformers. ITER's very high voltage electrical substation will be remotely controlled by RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Electricité).

42 hectares

2011-09-14 - The 42-hectare ITER platform, seen from the southern corner in September 2011. Counterclockwise from left: the RTE switchyard, the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility, the Seismic Pit—home to the future ITER Tokamak—and, in the distance, the ITER Headquarters, forecast for completion in July 2012. Photo: Altivue/ITER Organization