W7-X achieves 1.3 gigajoules energy turnover in 8-minute plasma run

Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics/Wendelstein 7-X

Wendelstein 7-X achieved 1.3 gigajoules of energy turnover sustained over 480 seconds (eight minutes) with average heating power of 2.7 megawatts on February 15, 2023. The achievement was 17 times higher than any previous W7-X record and demonstrated stellarator capability for long-pulse sustained fusion operations.

• 1.3 gigajoules sustained over eight minutes with 2.7 megawatts average heating power.
• 17 times higher than the previous best W7-X energy turnover (75 megajoules).
• Enabled by upgraded heating system capable of coupling twice as much power as before.
• Demonstrated stellarator viability for sustained long-pulse operation toward power plant conditions.