AI & New Nuclear – The fusion of intelligences

France has launched two major projects to strengthen its nuclear industry over the long term:

The deployment of EPR2 reactors and the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Set out in the Belfort speech (2022) and confirmed at the Nuclear Policy Council meeting on 17 March 2025, these initiatives are part of the France 2030 plan. They aim to guarantee a secure energy supply while meeting carbon-neutrality targets.

In a tense geopolitical context marked by the war in Ukraine, securing national low-carbon production is becoming a strategic imperative. Compact and flexible, SMRs are paving the way for new industrial and regional uses, while EPR2 reactors are responding to the urgent need to renew the fleet, faced with an estimated capacity loss of 4 GW/year by 2030.

In this transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a strategic lever. Beyond automation, it is reinventing the design, construction and operation of facilities. Finally, reviving the industry will require mobilising 100,000 professionals over ten years.

In this context, Sopra Steria Next is positioning itself as a trusted partner, combining industry expertise with digital and AI capabilities.

Nuclear power is the backbone of France's energy mix and a strategic asset in the face of the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions. Accounting for 70% of the mix and producing 361.7 TWh in 2024, the sector remains competitive, safe, and export-oriented (up to 90 TWh in 2024). Globally, it avoids 2.1 billion tons of CO₂ per year, while China and the United States are accelerating their deployment.

 

New Nuclear is a strategic pillar of national sovereignty and energy independence.It reduces dependence on hydrocarbon imports, limiting exposure to global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. But to meet the ambitions of the sector’s industrial revival, the industry must now address concrete challenges: Making the profession more attractive ; Accelerating training and controlling project timelines ; Guaranteeing some of the world’s most stringent safety standards.

The revival of nuclear power depends above all on human capital capable of designing, building and operating new-generation reactors. After two decades of slowdown, the industry must rebuild its industrial know-how—welding of large components, civil engineering, and safety maintenance—while integrating new digital expertise (AI, digital twins, cybersecurity).

Time is of the essence: the first EPR2 reactors are scheduled to come online by 2038. At the same time, SMRs represent a strategic breakthrough: compact, modular, they enable rapid on-site installation, while complementing large reactors.

But this ramp-up can only happen if maximum safety and security are guaranteed. In an unstable geopolitical context, the security of French nuclear facilities must combine physical protection and cybersecurity in the face of growing hybrid threats.

The revival of new nuclear power can only succeed with the support of artificial intelligence. AI is a powerful strategic lever, transforming processes, machines, human skills, and cybersecurity.

In the industrial field, it contributes to achieving the “70-month target” by optimizing construction cycles, improving the reliability of critical welds through real-time analysis, enhancing the safety of facilities, and streamlining site logistics by reducing “metal time.”

Beyond construction sites, AI is accelerating the day-to-day operation of facilities through digital twins, predictive maintenance, and intelligent reactor control.

It is also a human asset, supporting the training of 100,000 new talents and enhancing the attractiveness of the sector. Finally, in the face of hybrid threats, AI is establishing itself as a digital shield, guaranteeing the cybersecurity and resilience of critical systems.

As a trusted partner and recognized player in the industry, Sopra Steria Next combines strategic vision and technological expertise to make the new nuclear sector competitive, safe, and sovereign, capable of meeting global energy and climate challenges.

  • 70% of electricity from nuclear power in 2023 in France (56 reactors)

  • 70 months target time for the construction of an EPR2

  • 10,000 jobs to be filled each year for 10 years in France
New nuclear power is a strategic pillar of nations' energy sovereignty

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