Eni’s technological triangle

Magnetic confinement fusion, supercomputing and quantum computing are the research areas that make up Eni’s technological triangle. It is a coherent ecosystem, unique in the global energy landscape, and the concrete expression of a long-term vision that continually pushes the boundaries of innovation forward. 

Magnetic confinement fusion is one of the most promising prospects for power generation. This intrinsically safe, more sustainable and virtually inexhaustible process, inspired by the reactions that take place in the stars, can generate very large amounts of energy. The achievement of industrial-scale fusion could therefore mark a pivotal step in the energy transition, providing the world with a new technology for cleaner energy generation. 

Eni was among the first energy companies to invest in fusion, taking part in several research programmes with outstanding scientific partners in Italy and worldwide. The shared goal is to enable and accelerate the development of fusion power plants capable of feeding electricity into the grid a reality, thereby helping to increase the availability of decarbonised electricity while reducing environmental impact.

Eni’s main initiatives in nuclear fusion

A network of strategic alliances with centres of excellence in global research.

• Partnership with CFS (an MIT spin-out) for industrial-scale development and for the future SPARC and ARC plants, based on High Temperature Superconductors (HTS)   
• collaboration with ENEA on the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) scientific and technological hub in Frascati and on the development of technologies 
• collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) for the H3AT facility dedicated to managing  tritium
• a long-standing collaboration with the MIT, alongside a number of agreements with Italian universities and research centres for the development of fusion-enabling technologies 

Eni uses supercomputing and Artificial Intelligence as key technological levers for competitiveness and the energy transition. Our flagship system, HPC6, is the world’s most powerful supercomputer for industrial use and is housed at the Green Data Center in Ferrera Erbognone, a cutting-edge facility. Its computing power supports, for example, the optimisation of our plants, the study of CO₂ storage and the development of innovative or breakthrough energy solutions such as biofuels and fusion, thereby contributing to Eni’s commitment to decarbonisation.

The key applications of Eni’s supercomputing 

The HPC6 supercomputer is used in numerous areas of the energy transition and industrial innovation. Its main applications include:

• optimisation of industrial plant operations 
• increasing the efficiency of renewables 
• more accurate geological and fluid-dynamic studies for CO₂ storage 
• optimised identification of new natural gas reserves 
• simulation of plasma behaviour in magnetic confinement fusion
• research into innovative materials that are fundamental to the energy transition. 

These activities help to develop advanced technological solutions, promoting more sustainable and higher-performing processes across the energy sector.

Quantum computing represents a technological frontier that exploits the distinctive properties of physical systems such as atoms, ions, photons and superconducting circuits to perform extremely complex operations, with the aim of surpassing, in specific fields, the capabilities of traditional systems. Eni operates in this area through the joint venture Eniquantic, established through the collaboration between Eni and ITQuanta, an Italian start-up whose founders have decades of experience in atomic physics, simulation and quantum information. The objective is to develop quantum hardware and software solutions which, also when integrated with the HPC6 supercomputer, are designed to address key industrial challenges for the energy transition, such as optimisation, physical model simulation and the discovery of new materials. The architecture adopted by Eniquantic is based on the use of neutral ytterbium (Yb) atoms, selected for their ability to preserve quantum states over extended periods. Developing a quantum computer using atoms confined by laser beams known as optical tweezers will enable calculations that even the most powerful supercomputers cannot perform within practical timeframes. Also in this field, Eni’s collaboration with research institutions and industrial partners supports the development of advanced applications, with potential benefits across several areas of our business.

Areas where quantum computing is expected to be applied

The Eniquantic joint venture applies quantum technologies across several areas of the energy transition. The main areas of use include:

• advanced simulation and modelling of materials, using molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics techniques
• improving efficiency in energy generation and storage, particularly from renewable sources
• discovering new high-performance materials for innovative energy sources, such as magnetic confinement fusion
• optimisation of operational activities along the value chain, including energy trading processes and the trading of other commodities.

These areas of application help to develop technological solutions that can support the transformation of the energy sector towards increasingly sustainable and innovative models.