The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Eni have established a new joint venture designed to support the rapidly expanding fusion energy sector.
The new company, Rh3ova, will provide specialist consultancy and operational services focused on one of the industry’s biggest technical challenges: the fusion fuel cycle.
Based in the UK, Rh3ova combines UKAEA’s expertise in fusion research with Eni’s industrial and engineering capabilities. The venture aims to help organisations develop, deploy and operate fuel cycle technologies that are essential for future commercial fusion power plants.
The launch represents another step in the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in fusion energy. By strengthening collaboration between UKAEA and Eni, Rh3ova is expected to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion technologies while supporting the objectives of the UK’s national Fusion Strategy.
Addressing one of fusion energy’s greatest engineering challenges
Delivering commercially viable fusion power depends on far more than building advanced reactors. Managing the fusion fuel cycle efficiently remains one of the most complex technical barriers facing the industry.
Rh3ova has been created to provide end-to-end expertise across the entire fuel lifecycle, supporting customers from early feasibility assessments through to system deployment, commissioning and long-term operational support.
The company will advise organisations developing fusion facilities, helping them design safe and efficient systems for handling, processing and recovering fusion fuels.
Advancing the fusion fuel cycle
Most fusion concepts rely on deuterium and tritium as their primary fuels. While deuterium is naturally abundant and can be extracted from seawater, tritium is exceptionally scarce and requires careful production, handling and recycling.
This makes effective management of the fusion fuel cycle essential for future power plants. Every stage, including tritium production, fuel handling, recovery from exhaust gases and purification for reuse, must operate efficiently to make commercial fusion economically and technically viable.
By bringing together scientific knowledge with industrial experience, Rh3ova intends to help developers overcome these challenges and establish robust fuel cycle solutions for next-generation fusion facilities.
Speaking on the partnership, Stephen Wheeler, Executive Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at 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.”
Supporting the UK’s fusion ambitions
The creation of Rh3ova aligns with strategic priorities set out in both the UK’s Fusion Strategy and UKAEA’s long-term organisational plans.
It also deepens the existing partnership between UKAEA and Eni, which has expanded in recent years through several projects focused on advancing commercial fusion technologies.
For Eni, the joint venture further strengthens its growing position within the global fusion industry as investment in the sector continues to increase.
As governments and private companies accelerate efforts to bring fusion power closer to commercial reality, specialist expertise in fuel management is expected to become increasingly valuable.
Rh3ova will officially introduce its capabilities during a launch webinar scheduled for 14 July 2026, where organisations interested in developing or supporting future fusion power projects will be able to learn more about the company’s services.
