The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Eni have launched RH3OVA, a UK-based joint venture aimed at supporting the global fusion energy sector with specialist consultancy and operational services.

Combining UKAEA’s technical expertise with Eni’s industrial capabilities, RH3OVA will provide end-to-end support across the fusion fuel cycle, from feasibility studies to deployment and operations.

The venture will focus on managing deuterium and tritium, the key fuels used in fusion energy.

While deuterium is readily extracted from seawater, tritium is extremely scarce, making its efficient production, recovery and reuse essential for future commercial fusion power.

The launch aligns with the UK’s Fusion Strategy and UKAEA’s long-term objectives to accelerate fusion energy development.

It also deepens the strategic partnership between UKAEA and Eni, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing fusion technology and supporting its commercialisation. The initiative further strengthens Eni’s growing role in the emerging global fusion energy industry.

Stephen Wheeler, Executive Director, Tritium Fuel Cycle, UKAEA, said: “Having operated the Joint European Torus, which was the world’s most powerful deuterium-tritium fusion machine for more than 40 years, and with 30 years’ experience of tritium operations, the UK is a leader in tritium fuel cycle technology. For fusion to be realised as a commercially viable source of energy, however, this expertise must be scaled beyond the lab. RH3OVA offers best in class digital process models validated with real world, fusion relevant data sets. RH3OVA will combine UKAEA’s scientific and operational know-how, with Eni’s large-scale industrial capability, and leverage this joint expertise to increase knowledge and understanding across the fusion sector.”

Lorenzo Fiorillo, Technology, R&D & Digital Director of Eni, said: “Fusion energy has the potential to redefine the global energy landscape, and at Eni we are committed on multiple fronts to turning this potential into tangible industrial progress. Our partnership with UKAEA is of great strategic value to us and represents a further step in scaling up innovation and translating scientific excellence into real-world solutions. Today, with UKAEA, we are continuing our joint commitment for further progress in the fusion energy field, with a particular focus on the fuel cycle for fusion. This builds on our collaboration developing the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility started last year which will be a world-class facility of its kind. At the same time, RH3OVA will respond to the growing demand for specialized technical expertise and integrated engineering services dedicated to the fuel cycle, which will be essential enabling factors for the operation of fusion power plants using deuterium and tritium as fuels.” -OGN/TradeArabia News Service