AeronauticsNuclear
Energy transition: nuclear power at the heart of a decisive decade
The energy sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, driven by the electrification of transport, digitalisation through AI, and demographic growth alongside urbanisation. In the face of these shifts, three major challenges are emerging: ensuring competitive prices to maintain industrial viability, achieving the zero-carbon transition essential to limit global warming, and safeguarding energy sovereignty to reduce vulnerability to geopolitical tensions.
By 2035, carbon-emitting energy sources are expected to decline sharply in favour of renewables, while nuclear power is positioning itself as a strategic solution for securing the global energy mix. Between the life extension of existing plants and the development of innovative reactors, the nuclear industry is entering a decisive moment. Skills, digitalisation, and operational excellence are now key priorities, alongside the opportunities offered by emerging technologies. This is a panorama of the transformations shaping the future of an industry that has once again become a national and global priority.
Life Extension & Modernisation
Historic nuclear power stations remain essential to low-carbon electricity generation. Modernisation, inspection, predictive maintenance and upgrades to safety standards extend their lifespan while ensuring performance and safety.
Technological Renewal
SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) and AMRs (Advanced Modular Reactors) offer flexible and safe nuclear generation, meeting local needs and climate challenges through advanced safety systems and improved energy efficiency.
Digitalisation and AI
AI and digital twins are transforming nuclear operations by anticipating maintenance needs, simulating plant behaviour, and reducing operational risks – thus enhancing performance and safety.
Training & Skills
The success of nuclear energy depends on human expertise: training new talent, developing educational partnerships, fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer, promoting versatile skill sets, and continuously adapting to technological innovation.
Resilience and Cybersecurity
In response to growing threats, nuclear facilities are strengthening their resilience through robust critical systems and enhanced cybersecurity, ensuring reliable generation protected against all forms of risk.
Energy Transition
As a cornerstone of the low-carbon energy mix, nuclear power complements renewable energy by providing stable and reliable production – essential to achieving climate goals and ensuring energy security.
Insights
Expertise
ALTEN, Worldgrid and Anotech form a recognised alliance of expertise within the nuclear sector. ALTEN deploys 3,000 engineers specialising in energy to cover the entire nuclear value chain: new nuclear (EPR2, SMR, AMR), R&D, maintenance of existing plants, the fuel cycle, and decommissioning.
Worldgrid, integrated into the ALTEN Group in 2024, contributes 40 years of experience in digital and control-command solutions for critical systems, particularly in the instrumentation of next-generation reactors.
Anotech, a global leader in project services since 2006, complements this offering by supporting major players such as EDF in the delivery of complex projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, safety, and operational performance on an international scale.
Our nuclear solutions
Driving digital performance for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable nuclear future
ALTEN offers sovereign and secure AI solutions, specifically designed for critical industries such as nuclear power and defense. In partnership with Mistral AI, we combine our engineering excellence with a portfolio of cutting-edge AI, creating AI ecosystems tailored to business value. These solutions enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and security for critical infrastructure.
Building the foundations of tomorrow’s nuclear energy
ALTEN provides comprehensive civil engineering support, from design to execution. We bring technical precision and cross-functional expertise to all stages of nuclear construction: design management, anchor studies, steelwork, and contract management. Our teams are involved in major programs such as EPR2 and Hinkley Point C, guaranteeing quality, safety, and on-time delivery.
Supporting energy projects throughout their lifecycle with a focus on construction and commissioning
Through its specialized entity Anotech, ALTEN provides end-to-end management of energy projects, from construction to commissioning. We combine robust project management and technical expertise to streamline execution, secure supply chains, reduce risks, and guarantee reliable, efficient results that meet customer expectations.
Reliable, qualified systems including nuclear and transportation safety and control
Worldgrid provides comprehensive support throughout the entire lifecycle of critical systems: design, qualification, deployment, and maintenance. With over 40 years of nuclear expertise, Worldgrid ensures that components meet the most stringent standards, reduce risk, and optimize performance, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance in critical environments.
Ensuring the safety, performance, and longevity of nuclear facilities
ALTEN supports nuclear operators in managing equipment aging and regulatory compliance, enabling the extension of the operational life of power plants. Our Nuclear Services Platform is the leader in France for drafting Continuing Operating Capability Files (DAPE) and coordinating Technical Compliance Reviews (ECOT).
Innovative digital instrumentation and control solutions for nuclear reactors
Worldgrid designs, integrates, and maintains Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems that comply with the most stringent requirements. As an agnostic integrator, ALTEN offers proprietary or third-party solutions (ADACS-N, other systems) with long-term guarantees of security, compliance, and operational performance.
Transforming the nuclear industry through intelligent systems, IT/OT integration, OT security and operational excellence
Worldgrid drives digital transformation by combining industrial, IT, and OT expertise. We help operators modernize their operations and extend the life of their power plants through secure IT/OT integration and cybersecurity programs aligned with NIST CSF and IEC 62443, ensuring resilience, security, and value from digital transformation.
Driving performance and reliability across complex nuclear design and execution programs
ALTEN acts as the backbone of governance, providing strategic contract management and multidisciplinary expertise on complex programs such as EPR2. We guarantee design maturity, milestone compliance, and project reliability, helping our clients maintain quality, control costs, and secure interfaces.
How is ALTEN adapting to the challenges of the energy transition?
The energy transition, along with growing collective awareness of climate change, has highlighted the urgent need to shift the global energy mix toward decarbonized sources, thereby promoting renewable energy.
Our nuclear experts
“ALTEN operates internationally across the entire nuclear value chain, supporting the transition to decarbonization and the achievement of energy independence.”
Stéphane OUGIER – Executive Director – ALTEN
“We help the industry to adapt by recruiting the best talent, strengthening our Centers of excellence, developping new skills, and stimulating innovation.”
Benjamin GARDELLA – Director of Operations – ALTEN
Our publications
