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EDF Strives to Complete EPR2 Nuclear Power Plant in 70 Months

Recently, Electricité de France (EDF) announced that the company is continuing to advance multiple optimization efforts, striving to significantly shorten the construction period of the next-generation EPR2 nuclear power plant to 70 months. According to the latest industry updates released by the Société Française d'Énergie Nucléaire (Sfen), EDF is currently concentrating resources on engineering and management optimization of key projects, aiming to comprehensively improve the construction efficiency of next-generation nuclear power projects through multiple dimensions including design standardization, supply chain coordination, and construction process restructuring. The setting of this acceleration target...

2026-10-16

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Delivers Three Replacement Steam Generators to EDF to Support Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension

Recently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) of Japan officially delivered three replacement steam generators (SGs) to Électricité de France (EDF). These heavy components are planned for installation at Unit 2 of the Cruas Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern France. It is understood that, as a key core component of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants, the steam generator plays a critical role in transferring heat from the primary coolant system to the secondary cooling system, thereby generating steam to drive the turbine for power generation. Each unit of the delivered equipment is approximately 21 meters tall and weighs about 330 tonnes, is manufactured from high-strength low-alloy steel, and internally integrates more than 4,500 specially heat-treated, highly corrosion-resistant TT690 nickel-chromium-iron alloy heat transfer tubes.

2026-10-16

EDF Plans to Accelerate Climate Adaptation Plan as Summer Extreme Heat Forces Faster Nuclear Unit Retrofits

Xavier Ursat, an executive at Electricité de France (EDF), told local media on October 13 that, given the record negative disruption caused by this summer's extreme heat to the operation of France's nuclear units, the company has decided to comprehensively accelerate the nuclear power plant climate adaptation plan (ADAPT). As the backbone of France's baseload power, more than half of the country's electricity supply depends on nuclear power plants, and these plants generally draw water from inland rivers or estuaries as the secondary loop cooling water source. Affected by heatwave weather, many units, after the cooling cycle, return water to rivers at slightly elevated temperatures, making it very easy to touch...

2026-10-14

Framatome and EDF Renew Long-Term Operations and Maintenance Service Agreement for Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station, Safeguarding the UK's Only PWR Unit's Life Extension into the 2040s

Framatome of France and Électricité de France (EDF) have recently formally renewed a 15-year Long-Term Service Agreement (LTSA). The agreement will comprehensively cover integrated routine operations and maintenance as well as refueling outage services for Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station (Sizewell B NPP) in Suffolk, UK, to support the unit's ongoing long-term operation and life extension development strategy. Framatome has been continuously responsible for core overhaul and technical maintenance work at Sizewell B since 2008. The renewed long-term service contract extends directly to 2040, and Framatome will mobilize its global technical expertise in the pressurized water reactor (PWR) field and its UK-dedicated...

2026-10-10

Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station Formally Handed Over to Nuclear Restoration Services: Becomes England's First Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor Transferred by EDF for Decommissioning

On 1 October 2026, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) formally approved the transfer of the nuclear site licence, and Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station was officially handed over from Électricité de France (EDF) to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), a subsidiary of the UK government. This marks Hinkley Point B as the first Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) nuclear power station in England to formally enter the national specialist decommissioning sequence, and the second AGR unit in the UK to complete such a transfer, following Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station in Scotland earlier this year. Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station is located in Somerset and was built between 196...

2026-10-08

India's Ministry of Power and EDF Discuss EPR Nuclear Power Deployment Plans

Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary of India's Ministry of Power, held high-level bilateral talks with Bernard Fontana, Chairman and CEO of Électricité de France (EDF), in New Delhi. The two sides focused on in-depth discussions regarding the deployment of France's EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) Generation III+ nuclear power technology in India, advancing the localization of India's nuclear power industry chain, reform of the nuclear regulatory framework, and deepening cooperation on pumped hydro storage projects. India's Ministry of External Affairs,...

2026-09-27

EDF to dismantle Chinon A2 heat exchangers

Recently, France is preparing to begin dismantling its first UNGG reactor (first-generation natural uranium graphite gas-cooled nuclear reactor, Uranium Naturel Graphite Gaz). Cyclife, a subsidiary of Électricité de France (EDF), announced that the dismantling project at the Chinon A nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone, namely the approval of the contract strategy for dismantling the heat exchangers at the Chinon A2 plant. It is understood that the Chinon A2 reactor (Chinon A2 unit), also known as EDF2, is a decommissioned commercial nuclear reactor at Chinon Nuclear Power Plant, France's first-generation nuclear power plant. It holds pivotal demonstrative significance in the history of nuclear energy development in France and even globally...

2026-09-22

Partial shutdown of units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant due to jellyfish influx

French utility EDF announced on August 27 that the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France has taken emergency measures to shut down or reduce power output at some reactor units following a massive influx of jellyfish. An EDF spokesperson stated that since the night of August 26, more than 200 tonnes of jellyfish have accumulated near the filtration system of the plant's seawater pumping station. To ensure facility safety, the plant took preventive measures by completely shutting down 2 of its 6 reactor units. Meanwhile, 2 other units were operated at reduced power, and the remaining 2 units were already offline for maintenance and inspection reasons. This means that no unit at the Gravelines nuclear power plant is currently generating at full capacity...

2026-08-29

France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant Reports Multiple INES Level 0 Events

France's Gravelines nuclear power plant recently disclosed significant events reported to the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR). The events cover safety, operations, and radiation protection, and were all rated as Level 0 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), i.e., below the scale threshold, with no actual impact on facility safety, personnel health, or the environment. In a generic safety event involving EDF's 900 MWe-class nuclear reactor units, EDF discovered during inspections at the Cruas nuclear power plant that certain commercially supplied electric servomechanisms had been installed in functional positions requiring higher qualification levels, K3 or K3ad. K3 corresponds to seismic requirements, while K3ad involves both seismic and harsh environmental conditions, including radiation environments. Subsequently, EDF conducted checks on related equipment at the Blayais, Chinon, Cruas, Dampierre, Gravelines, Saint-Laurent, and Tricastin nuclear power plants and confirmed that a batch of equipment had model suitability issues.

2026-08-27

Netherlands advances front-end engineering design for two new nuclear power plants

The Netherlands Nuclear Organization (NEO NL) has awarded contracts to Électricité de France (EDF) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse) to conduct design studies for two proposed new nuclear power plants in the Netherlands. The work is seen as the next step in the construction preparation phase, with both companies set to launch the first phase of studies after the summer. These design studies, internationally referred to as Front-End Engineering Design Phase 1 (FEED 1), will be implemented in two stages. The first stage, FEED 1a, is independent of specific plant site selection, allowing work to proceed while the Dutch government advances its siting process...

2026-08-26

France Approves Preliminary Works for EPR2 Project at Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant

The French government issued a decree on August 22, local time, approving French utility EDF to launch preliminary preparation works for two EPR2 pressurized water reactors at the Gravelines nuclear power plant, and granting it related environmental permits for site development. The plant currently operates six 900 MW units and is the largest nuclear power station in Western Europe by installed capacity. According to the decree, the approved works include construction of construction platforms and site facilities, relocation of the existing rail terminal, earthworks, foundation reinforcement, construction of waterproof containment structures, and construction access roads. The work also involves relocation of protected flora and fauna, construction of a public information center, and construction of some ancillary parking facilities. EDF said...

2026-08-25

Unit 3 of France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant Reconnected to Grid, Unit 4 Remains Shut Down

According to EDF on August 18, Unit 3 of the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant in northern France was reconnected to the national grid at 3:55 a.m. local time on August 18. The unit had been automatically shut down at 7:43 p.m. on August 10 in accordance with established safety protection procedures due to a large influx of jellyfish into the seawater pump station filtration system. The Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant has a total of six units. On August 10, a large number of jellyfish entered the pump station used to draw seawater for cooling nuclear facilities, affecting equipment such as pre-filters and filter drums. In accordance with operating procedures, Units 3 and 4 were automatically shut down; the operating team also shut down Unit 2 and reduced Unit 1's power to 50% to adapt to changing site conditions. Unit 5 was...

2026-08-20

French heatwave to cut nuclear output by about 15% on Friday

Data from Electricite de France (EDF) shows that due to the fifth heatwave of the European summer, French nuclear power output is expected to fall by about 15% this Friday. At that time, nine reactors are expected to be affected, with total nuclear output reductions reaching 9.4 gigawatts during peak hours, of which six reactors will be completely shut down. This summer, many parts of Europe have experienced sustained high temperatures, with some regions seeing temperatures rise to abnormal levels, triggering issues such as water shortages and wildfires. French meteorological authorities predict that this heatwave will peak on Thursday, with temperatures across most of the country ranging between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. From Friday, cold air from the west will first affect the Atlantic coast and the English Channel region...

2026-08-14

Heatwave and jellyfish influx into pump stations push French nuclear unit unavailability to 20.4%

The heatwave sweeping across multiple regions of France is impacting the country's electricity production. Several nuclear reactors operated by Électricité de France (EDF) have been shut down or derated due to environmental restrictions or external environmental factors, with the unavailability rate of affected units rising to 20.4% before 10:00 AM on August 12, marking a recent high. Of France's 57 nuclear reactors, 13 are currently affected. Among them, 8 units are fully shut down: Bugey Unit 3, Cattenom Unit 1, Chooz Units 1 and 2, Golfech Unit 2, and Gravelines Units 2, 3, and 4; another 5 units are operating below rated power, including Saint-Alban Unit 2, Tricastin Units 1 and 4...

2026-08-13

French nuclear fleet output drops to 59% of full capacity

On Wednesday, August 12, French nuclear reactors operated at 59% of full capacity, according to RTÉ grid data and Bloomberg calculations, down 1 percentage point from 60% on Tuesday, August 11. EDF, the world's largest nuclear power operator, currently has 34 reactors in operation with a total available capacity of 33,250 MW; France's 57 nuclear reactors normally supply more than two-thirds of the country's electricity. EDF recently halted power generation at the Gravelines 2 and Bugey 3 reactors, while extending the outage of the Gravelines 3 and 4 units and the Cattenom 4 reactor...

2026-08-13