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We hardly expected it anymore. However, 17 years after the start of work and no less than 12 years after the originally announced date, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has finally given the green light for the commissioning of the famous Flamanville EPR.
25 years since none nuclear reactor it did not start in France. But this Wednesday, May 8, 2024, a day after the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) issued the go-ahead, EDF began fueling operations in the third-generation pressurized water reactor built in Normandy. Not just any: famous Flamanville EPR.
There are 57 nuclear reactors operating in France
Remember that it is a construction site constructionconstruction of this 1,650 megawatt (MW) nuclear reactor started in 2007. And during the years of delays, the Flamanville EPR budget literally exploded, rising from around 3 billion to more than 13 billion euros! But at the end of 2023, EDF was finally able to conduct full-scale tests. After several public consultations and the distribution of a draft approval decision last March, the commissioning approval was finally granted.
Did you know?
Flamanville EPR is the fourth in the world to be commissioned after two in China (Taishan) and one in Finland (Olkiluoto). Two more are under construction in the United Kingdom (Inkley Point). The new French nuclear program envisages the construction of three pairs of EPR2 – or a total of 6 reactors – at the Penly (Seine-Maritime), Gravelines (North) and Bugey (Ain) nuclear sites.
THE nuclear fuel it had already been ready for several weeks. It only took a few days – until May 15, 2024 – for EDF to load 241 enriched uranium assemblies, each 5 meters long and weighing 800 kilograms, into the Flamanville EPR tank. The tank will be able to be closed. And EDF will then be able to start its tests. First without nuclear reactionnuclear reaction. Along the rise pressurepressure and in the temperature that will lead to the first fissionfission – experts talk about the first deviation – which will happen only when ASN confirms all stages of the process.
The Flamanville EPR is soon ready to produce its first megawatts
In principle, we will still have to wait this summer for the Flamanville EPR to be connected to the grid. Then it will only work at approximately 25% of its power. It will still have to take several steps and be approved by the ASN to become the most powerful nuclear reactor operating in France. But it should reach full power at the end of this year, 2024. A year and a half after its launch, the Flamanville EPR will experience its first shutdown of several months to undergo a complete inspection. Then, in principle, it will produce 14 terawatt hours (TWh).current.
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