The First Stage Validation of EDF’s Flamanville EPR Reactor: Newest Updates and Progress

2024-05-16 11:34:00

First stage validated for EDF. The loading of gas within the Flamanville EPR reactor vessel (Manche) was accomplished yesterday round midday, Julien Collet, Deputy Director Common of the Nuclear Security Authority (ASN), stated this Thursday on the sidelines of the presentation of the annual report back to the Parliamentary Workplace for the Analysis of Scientific and Technological Choices (Opecst ), assembly on the Nationwide Meeting.

The day was to be marked with the inauguration of the Normandy reactor by the President of the Republic. ” It’s 25 years since we opened a nuclear energy plant in France “, remembered once more a couple of days in the past these round him, who ready ” a second of celebration “. A sequence was finally canceled because of the holding of a the protection council led by the top of state, following the institution of a state of emergency in New Caledonia the place riots have already precipitated the demise of 4 folks.

Nuclear: why EPR2 needs to be simpler to construct than Flamanville EPR

Loading gas into the reactor vessel constituted Act I of the long-awaited start-up operation of essentially the most highly effective nuclear reactor on the planet, after 17 lengthy and painful years of development. The Flamanville EPR was really supposed to supply its first electrons in 2017, simply 5 years after the primary groundbreaking. However this extraordinarily formidable business show rapidly grew to become a failure. Burdened by repeated slip-ups, the challenge was finally twelve years delayed. Mechanically, the invoice exploded. It now quantities to 13.2 billion euros in keeping with EDF, or 4 occasions the three.3 billion euros that was initially supposed.

A gradual improve in energy

Nuclear gas loading operations, carried out by EDF groups, began on Friday 8 Might after ASN gave the inexperienced mild the day earlier than. The reactor will now be heated. On this part, assessments might be carried out on zero impact. Then comes the divergence stage, which signifies the beginning of the nuclear response. This step, focused by EDF on the finish of June, requires prior approval from the nuclear watchdog.

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Nuclear: EDF has began loading uranium into the Flamanville EPR

The reactor will then regularly improve in energy till it reaches a primary degree equivalent to 25% of capability. This degree additionally corresponds to the connection of the reactor to {the electrical} system. That is when the primary electrons are despatched to the Normandie community. EDF estimates that this new key part will happen in the course of the summer time. A brand new authorization from ASN might be required to transcend this degree. The Nuclear Policeman will intervene one final time on this lengthy start-up course of: after the reactor has reached 80% of its energy, to authorize it to succeed in its rated energy. A deadline set for the tip of the yr.