2024-05-10 20:52:02
The development of mini-nuclear reactors is accelerating globally, reflecting a growing search for compact and efficient energy solutions. These reactors, smaller and often modular, are designed to be more flexible and safer than traditional reactors. To UNITED STATESouch Canadain Russia and in China, initiatives aim to create reactors that can be rapidly deployed to power remote areas or specific industrial facilities. This trend is accompanied by a desire to reduce nuclear waste and optimize the use of existing resources.
In France, the Naarea company stands out with a mini-reactor project that uses nuclear waste as fuel. According to a report by TF1, this reactor aims to provide energy from 2030 to isolated cities and factories, using plutonium from current reactors. The project represents an investment of several hundred million euros, with the aim of transforming long-lived waste into a viable energy resource. This concept is in line with a sustainable and innovative vision for handling nuclear waste.
At the same time the start-up Jimmy Energy, based in Le Creusot, plans to start construction of the factory in September. With an investment of 100 million d’eurois the goal of producing a reactor capable of generating heat for industrial processes by the end of 2026. This reactor aims to replace polluting gas with a carbon-free heat source, thus meeting the growing demand from manufacturers for greener and more economical energy solutions .
EDF, for its part, is developing the Nuward project, a 15-metre high mini-reactor, ten times smaller than traditional EPR reactors. This reactor has the special feature of producing both electricity and steam, which can be used for industrial applications or for the production of hydrogen. EDF plans to deploy these reactors mainly abroad, with ongoing discussions with several European countries looking to replace their coal plants.
However, these projects must go through strict checks by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), an often long and demanding process. The focus is on safety and regulatory compliance to ensure that these new technologies can be safely and effectively integrated into the European energy landscape. With significant investments and a clear desire to modernize and diversify its energy supply, France is positioning itself as a key player in the field.
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