EDF to Commission Third Generation Pressurized Reactor in France

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--French Power Major Électricité de France S.A. (EDF) (EDF: PA) (Paris) expects to commission its first Third Generation European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPWR) at the Flamanville Nuclear Power Station by 2016.

On commissioning of the 1,650-megawatt (MW) reactor, the capacity the power station, which is located at the Normandie region in Western France would increase to 4,410 MW. Initially scheduled to be operational in 2014 the project has faced a delay of more than two years. EDF has attributed the delay to a variety of reasons, including construction issues, changes design and policy parameters as well as due to frequent safety inspections by Nuclear Safety Authority of France (ASN) following the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The Flamanville Nuclear Power Station is equipped with two 1,330 MW with two Alstom condensing steam turbines. In May 2006, EDF planned expansion of the plant with the state-of-the-art European Pressurized Water Reactor, with a total investment of €4 billion. But due to the delay in execution, the project has faced a major cost overrun. The project cost has now jumped to almost double.

Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris, France) supplies the steam generator, reactor coolant lines and pumps, control rod drive mechanisms and its very first European Pressurized Reactor (EPR). Alstom (EPA:ALO) (Levallois-Perret, France) will supply 1750 MW Arabelle steam turbine with four pole 50Hz turbo generator.

The new EPR has been designed to minimize chemical and radioactive waste by 30% more than the existing units. With an estimated life span of 60 years the new unit will produce electricity for 1.5 million habitants. The unit will consume 17% less fuel than the existing power plant.

EDF is playing a leading role in the development of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). ITER, a consortium of the European Union, the United States, Japan, Russia, China, and South Korea, seeks to build a working fusion reactor at a testing site in Cadarache, France, by 2025. Site work is under way on the € 20 billion project.

French authorities and utilities launched their nuclear renaissance program keeping in mind 2020, when the country's original fleet of nuclear power plants will start to enter in the decommissioning phase.

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