A comprehensive reactor portfolio of GEN III+ technologies to meet our clients’ needs

Shaping Net-Zero future with state-of-the-art generation III+ nuclear technologies

EPR: a proven and robust technology for high energy demand

  • 1650
    MWe

    Net power output

  • 60
    years

    Lifetime

  • ≥90
    %

    Availability

  • 12 - 24
    months

    Operation cycle length

The EPR reactor

The most powerful reactor worldwide, the EPR reactor has been designed with the highest standards of safety as well as optimised technical, economic and environmental performance.

EPR1200, the EPR mid-size adaptation

Entirely based upon the fully proven EPR design, EPR1200 benefits from the EPR’s robustness at a power output of 1200 MWe (instead of 1650 MWe), with the highest safety standards as well as optimised technical, economic and environmental performance.

EPR1200 is adapted to various site conditions and grid requirements.

  • 1200
    MWe

    Net power output

  • 60
    years

    Lifetime

  • ≥90
    %

    Availability

  • 12 - 24
    months

    Operation cycle length

EPR1200 reactor: cutting-edge, safe, respectful of the environment

Fully benefitting from EPR lessons learned, the EPR1200 is a completely European-grown Generation III+ nuclear reactor. It is specifically designed to meet various regulatory, site and grid conditions whilst strongly focusing its value chain within Europe.

Robustness

✓ A proven technical configuration resulting from 60 years of experience and mature Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technology.

✓ Together with EDF, the French nuclear industry relies upon the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Framatome, Orano, amongst others, as well as benefits from the expertise of the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).

Safety

✓ Nuclear safety is our overriding priority and is at the forefront of what we do.

✓ GEN III+ technology with the highest standards of safety and strong resistance.

✓ Benefitting from the licensing experience of the EPR reactor, hence ensuring a highly degree of licenseability of the EPR1200 on the export market:

  • EPR technology already licensed by four nuclear authorities including 3 in Europe: in France, the United Kingdom, Finland and China;
  • Design taking into account external extreme hazards;
  • Post-Fukushima requirements integrated in the design;
  • Resistance to severe accident as per design: very low frequency of severe accident.

Competitiveness

✓ Outstanding operating performance with an availability over 90%.

✓ An unbeatable flexibility thanks to load-following: capacity to adjust its power up to 80% in 30 minutes twice a day as per design.

✓ A highly dispatchable solution with an availability 24 hours a day 7 days a week on demand.

✓ A comprehensive localisation strategy designed to leverage the existing Czech nuclear industry and foster the creation of new industrial capabilities

Environment-friendly

✓ Carbon-free electricity generation avoiding nearly 8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per reactor per year.

✓ Biodiversity preservation with a limited land footprint, thanks to a high energy density.

For lower power needs, EDF and a team of partners from industry and energy sectors have joined their strengths and competences to develop an SMR technology: NUWARD™.
With a net power output of 340 MWe (2 reactors of 170 MWe each), NUWARD™ is based on decades of experience on proven PWR technology and gathers 50 years of experience in energy generation, reactor design, industrialisation and construction.

With NUWARD™, EDF answers to various needs:

  • Replace 300-400 MWe industrial coal-fired boilers;
  • Electrify remote communities;
  • Power industrial sites or less interconnected infrastructures;
  • Provide grid stability in particular in cases of high perpetration of intermittent renewable sources.

Highly maneuverable, NUWARD™ is also designed to support other potential usages such as hydrogen production, district heating or desalination.

NUWARD™ will meet the emerging SMR market by 2030s as EDF plans to start construction of a NUWARD™ reference plant in France in 2030.

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Building a long-term partnership

EDF manages the entire nuclear power plant lifecycle

  • DESIGN

  • BUILD

  • OPERATE

  • DECOMMISSION

EPR for Europe: the benefits of being part of the EPR European Fleet

Driving the wave of new nuclear development in Europe is at the core of EDF’s strategy. It is EDF’s conviction that building robust, comprehensive and long-term relationships with European partners and allies is the most efficient and sustainable way to maximize the positive effects of nuclear development in Europe.

Europe being at the heart of its strategy, EDF is currently involved in several EPR projects under development in Europe. The growing European EPR fleet will provide Czech Republic economies of scale: an accelerated learning curve in integrating the EPR supply chain and securing project delivery for Dukovany and beyond.