French energy major TotalEnergies is building a new high-performance supercomputer called Pangea 5 to expand its artificial intelligence and seismic imaging capabilities for energy exploration and research. The system will be installed at the company’s Jean Féger Scientific and Technical Center in Pau, France, and is expected to go live in 2027.

The company said the supercomputer will increase its computing power sixfold compared to current systems. The project is being developed in partnership with Dell Technologies and NVIDIA and represents an investment of more than 100 million euros.

Pangea 5 will be used to process complex geological and energy data, including advanced seismic imaging that helps energy companies map underground structures more accurately. TotalEnergies said the added computing power will also support AI-based research and integrated power system modeling.

The company plans to use the platform to shorten computing times and improve analysis of complex industrial processes tied to energy production and transition technologies.

AI powers energy search

“Artificial intelligence and digital technology are strategic drivers of our energy transition. By increasing our computing power sixfold, we are strengthening our leadership in high-performance computing ensuring that our experts teams continue to have the means to push the envelope to support the development of our activities and meet the growing global demand for energy,” said Namita Shah, President, OneTech at TotalEnergies.

The company said the system will rely on specialized processors optimized for massively parallel computing tasks. These chips are designed to process large-scale scientific and industrial workloads more efficiently than traditional computing systems.

According to TotalEnergies, Pangea 5 will cut energy consumption by around 40 percent at equal performance levels compared to earlier versions. The cooling system tied to the supercomputer is also expected to consume five times less energy.

The heat generated by the supercomputer will not go to waste. Instead, the residual heat will be recovered and used to help warm buildings at the research center, which hosts more than 2,500 employees.

NVIDIA chips drive system

“NVIDIA Compute, network and software platforms will provide Pangea 5 with exceptional parallel computing power, accelerating scientific workloads and opening new opportunities in artificial intelligence,” said John Josephakis, Vice President HPC & AI at NVIDIA.

The system will use NVIDIA GPUs, CPUs, and InfiniBand networking technology to handle large-scale simulations and AI workloads tied to energy exploration and industrial modeling.

“TotalEnergies is pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing, and we’re delighted to be part of that journey,” said Adrian McDonald, President, Dell Technologies EMEA. “Pangea 5 will give TotalEnergies the computing power to accelerate discovery, increase efficiency and drive the energy transition forward.”

High-performance computing has become increasingly important for energy companies as they process massive amounts of geological, operational, and AI-driven data. Systems like Pangea 5 allow companies to run detailed subsurface simulations, improve drilling accuracy, and optimize energy infrastructure planning.

The project also reflects the growing overlap between AI infrastructure and the energy sector, where advanced computing is now becoming central to exploration, grid modeling, and industrial optimization.