Assystem and GenF Partner on Nuclear Fusion Reactor Project

Assystem, an engineering and technology consulting company, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with GenF, a subsidiary of the Thales group. The collaboration focuses on the TARANIS project, which seeks to develop an inertial confinement nuclear fusion reactor. This project is being conducted in conjunction with the CEA and CNRS, aiming to advance the future of clean and sustainable energy.

The partnership is initially set to run until December 21, 2027. A primary objective of the TARANIS project is to demonstrate the economic viability of a nuclear fusion reaction with a high gain factor, targeting over 100 MW. This means that for every 1 MW of electrical power consumed, the reactor is expected to generate 100 MW of fusion power.

The technology employed relies on the principle of inertial confinement fusion (ICF). This method utilizes ultra-powerful lasers to rapidly compress a small capsule containing a deuterium and tritium mixture, creating the extreme temperature and pressure conditions necessary to initiate fusion. Thales, a leader in high-power laser technology, is supplying the high-energy lasers required for this process.

Assystem will contribute its expertise in systems engineering and digital technologies to the project. The company will assist GenF in areas such as developing systems engineering processes, creating a digital twin of the reactor for simulation and performance validation, and defining the reactor's functional analysis to support safety approaches.