BEST is a compact superconducting tokamak being built in Hefei by ASIPP-linked Fusion Energy (Anhui) Co. to demonstrate burning D-T plasma with Q around 5. Assembly passed the halfway point in early 2026 and completion is targeted for late 2027, with an electricity-generation demonstration aimed for around 2030.
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Current state
| Status | Under construction |
| Country | China |
| Location | Hefei, Anhui |
| Developer | Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) / Fusion Energy (Anhui) Co. |
| Developer type | Public |
| Concept | Tokamak |
| Fuel | D-T |
| Purpose | Demonstration |
| Net energy target | 2030 |
| Site | Under construction in Hefei; main building complete |
| Public funding | Chinese state and Anhui provincial funding |
Notes
Sources disagree on construction start (2023 vs May 2025). net energy target 2030 reflects the stated aim to demonstrate net fusion power gain and electricity generation around 2030 (Q~5 is Q_sci). No first-plasma year officially stated; completion targeted end-2027.
Timeline
- 2023 — Construction of BEST began in Hefei. (source)
- 2025-08 — Final assembly of BEST was reported to be under way, with the main building complete and completion targeted for 2027. (source)
- 2026-01 — Xinhua reported more than half of BEST's assembly complete, entering the nested vacuum vessel/thermal shield/TF magnet phase. (source)
The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. Stated targets appear in the current-state table, never as milestones.
Related projects
- ARC (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) Design · United States
- CFEDR / China Fusion Energy Co. demo reactor (successor to CFETR) Design · China
- CTRFR-1 / Startorus No.1 (Startorus Fusion) Design · China
- EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) Operating · China
- EU DEMO (EUROfusion Demonstration Power Plant) Concept · European Union
- FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) Design · Japan
- HH170 (Energy Singularity) Design · China
- HH70 (Energy Singularity) Operating · China
See all 51 projects in the Fusion Energy Companies & Projects Tracker →
Sources
- Final assembly for Chinese tokamak — Nuclear Engineering International, checked 2026-10-11
- China's fusion research construction of BEST gains momentum (Xinhua) — Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- China's artificial sun advances — Interesting Engineering, checked 2026-10-11
- IRFM's participation in the 2nd CFEDR physics design review — CEA-IRFM, checked 2026-10-11