After a 17-year wait, marked by delays and costs that quadrupled compared to initial estimates, the nuclear reactor EPR Of Flamanville has finally started producing energy. Located in the Manche region, this technological giant represents the most powerful reactor in France and one of the largest in the world. The news was given by the CEO of EDF, Luc Remontwho stated:
A historic event for the French nuclear industry, a milestone that had been missing for 25 years, since the days of Civaux 2.
An event that comes with a very high price tag: from the 3.3 billion euros initially expected, the project has reached 13 billion euros, accompanied by a 12-year delay. Numbers that make you think, especially at a time when clean and sustainable energy is at the center of the global debate.
These are the type of nuclear reactors defined as third generation, the same ones that would have had to be built in Italy if the 2011 referendum had not blocked atomic energy made in Italy again.
There was no shortage of words of enthusiasm from the president Emmanuel Macron:
The startup of the reactor is a crucial moment for the country. The Flamanville EPR strengthens our competitiveness and protects the climate and is an important signal for France’s energy transition, which aims to maintain the role of nuclear in the energy mix alongside renewables.
France, in fact, finds itself faced with a complex energy scenario: with a strong push on renewables and the continuous debate on the actual impact of nuclear power, the launch of the EPR comes as a clear answer, although not without controversy.
Next steps: towards full power
With its 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, the Flamanville EPR is not only the largest reactor in France, but also one of the most impressive in the world. It is comparable to the Taishan in China (1.75 GW) and the Olkiluoto reactor in Finland, all based on EPR technologies. This makes it a true technological gem, although not without controversy.
Despite its impressive production capacity, the reactor comes into operation in a period of relatively low energy consumption, a detail that could limit its immediate impact. Furthermore, the project has repeatedly been at the center of criticism for its high costs and accumulated delays, which raise doubts about the economic feasibility of future similar reactors.
The launch of the EPR represents only the beginning of a long process. EDF explained that in the coming months the reactor will undergo rigorous tests and phases of connection and disconnection to the electricity grid. All this under the supervision of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), with the aim of reaching 100% capacity by 2025.
According to EDF estimates, the reactor will produce approximately 14 terawatt hours of electricity until the first scheduled maintenance. “Starting up a reactor is a long and complex operation – underlined EDF – but each phase is carried out with the utmost respect for safety standards”.
EDF and the new reactors: a future still uncertain
Looking ahead, EDF aims to build six more EPR reactors by 2050, as part of the strategy outlined by Macron to support the French energy transition. However, the long lead times and high costs of the Flamanville project raise doubts about the feasibility of this ambitious plan.
Nuclear, while representing a pillar of French energy production, faces increasingly greater challenges in a global context that is pushing towards more accessible and economically sustainable renewable energy. Will Flamanville really be the symbol of the rebirth of nuclear power or yet another example of its difficulties?
