France's Nuward plans to start construction of small modular reactor in 2030

Nuward is a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF Group, focused on developing small modular reactor technology. At a related event during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Nuward CEO Julien Garrel detailed the development progress of the Nuward small modular reactor. He noted that the project has entered its next phase, with the goal of building the “first batch of 10 Nuward small modular reactor series” in five European countries. The company plans to complete commercialization by 2029, ensure the start of construction in 2030, and begin power generation in 2035.

 

The Nuward small modular reactor is designed to provide multiple energy solutions for Europe's industrial clusters and district heating systems, and features flexible load regulation capability. The company emphasized that deploying 30 to 40 Nuward small modular reactors in European industrial clusters can significantly enhance energy security and the ability to address climate change. In addition, the company highlighted advantages such as existing manufacturing facilities and fuel supply. Nuward hopes to make this technology a European technology rather than merely a French one, and has already begun discussions with companies in other European countries to build a strong European alliance.

 

The project's goals are to achieve industrial competitiveness, realize decarbonization, enhance strategic independence, and ensure energy supply, while providing “local, economical, and clean energy.” The construction period for the Nuward small modular reactor is expected to be 48 months. The company was initially jointly launched in September 2019 by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, EDF Group, Naval Group, and TechnicAtome, with an initial design of two 170 MW pressurized water reactors, with a total capacity of 340 MW. In order to better meet the expectations of potential customers, Nuward announced in July 2024 that it planned to optimize the design, focusing on adopting existing and proven technologies to ensure the project can be completed on time and within budget.