Space Industry and Business News
CIVIL NUCLEAR
After long delay, French nuclear plant coming on stream
After long delay, French nuclear plant coming on stream
by AFP Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Dec 18, 2024

France's flagship nuclear reactor at Flamanville in Normandy will finally enter service on Friday after a dozen years of delay, operator EDF said Wednesday.

The energy operator said the coupling to the network of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor "is planned for December 20, 2024," but added that operation "will be marked by different power levels through to the summer of 2025" in a months long testing phase.

"Following this test phase it is planned for the reactor to operate at 100 percent power until a first scheduled shutdown for maintenance and fuel reloading, dubbed Complete Visit 1 (VC1)," EDF stated.

The start-up of the new generation plant comes 12 years behind schedule after a plethora of technical setbacks which saw the cost of the project soar to an estimated 13.2 billion euros -- four times the initial 3.3 billion estimate.

To mark the coming on stream EDF will hold a press conference on Friday at its Paris headquarters.

The start-up was begun on September 3, but had to be interrupted the following day due to an "automatic shutdown" before resuming a few days later.

The initial start-up marked the beginning of a gradual increase in power up to the 25 percent of capacity level allowing the reactor to be connected to the electricity network.

The grid connection was initially planned to be finalised before the end of the summer.

The EPR, a new generation pressurised water reactor, is the fourth of its kind anywhere in the world.

It is also the 57th reactor in the French nuclear fleet, and the most powerful in the country at 1,600 MW. Ultimately, it should supply electricity to upwards of two million homes.

French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to ramp up nuclear power to bolster French energy sustainability by ordering six EPR2 reactors as well as eight additional optional ones from EDF in a policy commitment costing tens of billions of euros.

The new nuclear policy has helped EDF move on from a crisis the need for checks or repairs to be carried out on multiple reactors due to a stress corrosion problem, causing power production to plummet.

Nuclear power accounts for around three fifths of French energy output and the country boasts one of the globe's largest nuclear power programmes.

That is in stark contrast to neighbouring EU powerhouse Germany, which exited nuclear power last year by shutting down the last three of its reactors.

Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CIVIL NUCLEAR
China replaces Russia in Kazakh uranium mines
Almaty, Kazakhstan (AFP) Dec 17, 2024
Russia's nuclear giant Rosatom is selling stakes in its uranium mining operations in Kazakhstan to Chinese companies, the main Kazakh uranium company said Tuesday, underscoring Beijing's growing clout in central Asia. "Kazatomprom announces the exit of its Russian partner from some joint ventures," said a statement from the world's largest uranium mining company, which mines the crucial metal at 26 sites in Kazakhstan, which borders Russia and China. The statement said Uranium One Group, part o ... read more

CIVIL NUCLEAR
AI startup Databricks raises $10 bn as value soars

New type of quasiparticle discovered in magnetic materials

Stretchable, flexible, recyclable. This plastic is fantastic

China's Xi urges Macau to pivot from casinos as new leader sworn in

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Pentagon collaborates with Movius on secure communication solutions

Viasat secures $568M contract to enhance C5ISR capabilities for US Defense

Researchers develop mobile all-light network for seamless air land and underwater connectivity

ST Engineering iDirect launches innovative multi-orbit satellite connectivity

CIVIL NUCLEAR
CIVIL NUCLEAR
GPS alternative for drone navigation leverages celestial data

Deciphering city navigation AI advances GNSS error detection

China advances next-generation BeiDou satellite navigation system

Space Systems Command and U.S. Navy achieve major MGUE program milestone

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Atmospheric Probe Shows Promise in Test Flight

Uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management expands beyond line of sight

UK, Italy, Japan to develop next-generation fighter jet

U.S., South Korea to flex aerial might during May airshow

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Frontgrade Gaisler leads European effort for advanced space semiconductor technology

SK Hynix to get $458 mn funding for US chip facilities

Precise control of quantum states with extreme ultraviolet lasers

Bringing the power of tabletop precision lasers for quantum science to the chip scale

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Introducing Wherobots Raster Inference to unleash innovation with Earth imagery

SatVu secures ESA funding for high-resolution thermal imaging project in energy sector

NASA studies crops, forest response to changing rainfall patterns

AI advances unlock 3D cloud mapping from satellite data

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Air pollution in India tied to significant mortality rates

Russian beach town declares emergency over oil spill

Four Zimbabwe rhinos die after drinking polluted water

Students, employees told to stay home due to air pollution in Iran

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.