[Answered] India is a key partner in the ITER fusion project. Examine the strategic and technological challenges and opportunities in the recently proposed roadmap for achieving indigenous fusion power.”

Introduction

India, contributing nearly 10% of ITER’s procurement packages and advanced components, stands at a critical juncture—balancing its net-zero by 2070 commitment with the ambitious SST-Bharat roadmap for indigenous nuclear fusion power.

Opportunities in India’s Fusion Roadmap

1. Strategic Autonomy in Energy Security: Fusion offers virtually limitless, low-carbon energy using isotopes like deuterium and tritium, abundant in seawater and lithium reserves. Reduces dependence on coal and imported uranium, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat.
2. Technological Upgradation and Spin-offs: Development of superconducting magnets, plasma diagnostics, cryogenics, and radiation-resistant materials can upgrade India’s industrial ecosystem. R&D spin-offs aid defence, aerospace, semiconductor, and high-temperature engineering sectors.
3. Global Standing in Scientific Collaboration: India’s contribution to ITER components (cryostat, in-wall shielding) enhances its credibility in “big science” projects. A successful SST-Bharat prototype (Q=5, 130 MW) could elevate India’s leadership in South-South cooperation for sustainable energy.
4. One Health and Climate Linkages: Fusion aligns with IPCC AR6 recommendations on decarbonisation pathways. Supports India’s net-zero 2070 trajectory, while reducing air pollution-related health burdens.
5. Digital Twin and AI Integration: Use of digital twinning, machine learning-assisted plasma confinement, and predictive simulations offers India a leapfrog opportunity to reduce trial-and-error costs in experimental tokamaks.

Challenges in the Roadmap

1. Technological Complexity: Sustaining plasma at 100 million °C for extended durations remains a hurdle—India’s current SST-1 achieved only 650 milliseconds versus China’s EAST sustaining 22 minutes. Achieving a Q ≥ 20 for commercial viability demands breakthroughs not yet proven.
2. Financial and Policy Constraints: Estimated ₹25,000 crore for SST-Bharat poses fiscal strain amid competing energy priorities (solar, wind, nuclear fission). Unlike the US/UK, India lacks private-sector participation; fusion research remains public-sector dominated.
3. Uncertain Timelines and Cost Competitiveness: India’s target of 2060 lags behind the UK’s STEP 2040 and US private firms’ 2030s claims. Economic viability remains untested; fusion electricity may be costlier than RE100 (solar/wind+storage).
4. Strategic Dependence on Global Partners: ITER delays and cost overruns expose India to vulnerabilities. Dependence on foreign expertise could hinder full indigenous control over critical technologies like tritium breeding modules (TBM).
5. Geopolitical and Security Dimensions: Fusion materials and technologies overlap with dual-use domains (nuclear weapons, space reactors), necessitating strict IAEA safeguards. Competition with China’s aggressive fusion programme may pressure India’s timelines.

Way Forward

1. Policy Push: Establish a National Fusion Mission with private-sector entry and PPP models.
2. Investment in R&D: Incentivise innovation in superconductors, plasma-facing materials, and AI-driven plasma control.
3. International Collaboration: Leverage BRICS, QUAD, and ITER partnerships for joint innovation hubs.
4. Economic Viability: Integrate fusion with fission hybrids (SST-Bharat) as transition models before pure fusion.

Conclusion

Transformative energy shifts require persistence and vision. India’s fusion roadmap, though challenging, represents a strategic bet on clean, resilient, autonomous power futures.