TER is a mega-project, the result of a joint effort by 39 countries around the world, led by China and the European Union. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) mimics solar processes through nuclear fusion, and promises to become the most sustainable and cleanest source of energy on the planet. Iter, in Latin, means road.
Located in Cadarache in the south of France, the ITER facility covers 42 hectares and consists of a total of 39 buildings. Ferrovial Agroman has participated in the project by constructing seven of the buildings and collaborating in the design of the structures in general.
The major planning, design and implementation challenges faced include the following:
Careful study of the soils to detect and prevent any imperfections that could affect the behavior of the foundations and alter plant processes.
The installation and assembly of machinery, which can reach enormous dimensions, with the relative difficulties of moving, positioning and assembly. This includes the cryostat, the largest single component of the complex, which requires the simultaneous work of two cranes with a load capacity of 1500 tons for its assembly.
The anticipation of accidents such as seismic events, fires, explosions, aircraft impacts, etc.
In conjunction with the International Space Station, ITER is one of the most expensive international projects in history. In the experimental phase, the reactor has been able to produce 10 times the amount of energy needed to carry out the processes, and this without CO2 emissions. The first results from ITER are expected in 2025.