GenF: Nuclear Fusion to Replace Current Reactors

GenF, with support from major partners such as Thales, Assystem, and Dassault, is developing a nuclear fusion reactor based on laser confinement, with the goal of replacing today’s 900 MW reactors by 2050. This ambitious target is mobilizing players from across France.

Selected in March 2024 under the “innovative reactors” call for projects, the start-up GenF recently unveiled its ambitions. “Leveraging the expertise of CNRS and CEA with GenF allows us to propose a coherent roadmap to meet national needs, aiming to replace 900 MW fission reactors at the end of their lifespan by 2050 with 1,000 MW fusion reactors,” the company posted on LinkedIn. To achieve this, GenF is betting on laser confinement fusion—also called inertial confinement—and is bringing together Thales, CNRS, CEA, as well as Assystem and Dassault Systèmes.

Demonstrating the Economic Viability of Inertial Fusion

Fission involves splitting a heavy atom into lighter atoms. Fusion does the opposite. Achieving fusion requires heating plasma to millions of degrees, using one of two confinement methods: magnetic or inertial (laser-based). For example, the first method is used by the international Iter project (tokamak) under construction in Cadarache, and by Renaissance Fusion (stellarator), another France 2030-funded start-up. The second method, explored in France at the Laser Mégajoule facility near Bordeaux, is being closely studied by both GenF and Germany’s Marvel Fusion.

To tackle this challenge, GenF is leading the Taranis project, selected as part of the France 2030 investment plan. “The Taranis project (1000 MWth) aims to demonstrate the economic viability of the process,” stated the press kit for the March 2024 “innovative reactors” call for projects.

Top-Tier Partners

Though GenF is a small structure—with a team of about ten people—it has heavyweight support. Behind it stands Thales, with extensive expertise in high-power lasers. GenF also works with two joint research units: Luli (CNRS-Polytechnique-CEA) and Celia (CNRS-Univ. Bordeaux-CEA). Dassault Systèmes contributes its collaborative #3DExperience platform, while Assystem provides engineering strength and expertise in digital twin design.

These partners may further strengthen their collaboration within a Fusion Hub that GenF plans to open in the Bordeaux region by 2028 to develop the technologies for its future reactors.