Licensing process begins for Nuward Small Modular Reactor project in France
EDF has submitted the safety options file -required to start the licensing process- for the Nuward Small Modular Reactor to the French nuclear safety regulator, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN).
At the beginning of 2023, the EDF Group created, together with other leading entities in the sector, a new subsidiary called Nuward for the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
The French enterprise has already taken the first step to be able to launch this innovative project by presenting the safety options file to ASN. It contains the safety objectives, the global design features and the main principles for the operation and risk management for these reactors. It is the pre-application process required to begin construction of these Small Modular Reactors.
EDF has presented the safety options file, an essential step in the licensing process for the first SMR in France
"As part of our strategy to support the energy transition around the world and become the European reference for SMRs, the construction of a plant in France will be the demonstration of Nuward's performance and competitiveness," said Renaud Crassous, president of Nuward.
Nuward officials say they are advancing their international deployment strategy and are engaging with European nuclear safety authorities with the aim of jointly reviewing their SMR design under the guidance of the ASN.
The start of construction of the first French SMR is scheduled for 2030
According to Nuward's roadmap, detailed design and formal application for the new nuclear facility will begin in 2026, with construction of the first unit in 2030, a process that will take about three years.
The first steps of a pioneering project
French President Emmanuel Macron announced at the end of 2021 the "France 2030" Plan, which includes significant budget allocations dedicated to the development of new nuclear power and 1,000 million euros for SMRs.
In this way, the French country intensified its participation in the Nuward project, which consists of a 340 MWe SMR plant with two Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) of 170 MWe each one that can be grouped into blocks. The initiative has been developed jointly between the CEA, EDF, Naval Group, TechnicAtome, Edvance, Framatome and Tractebel, also counting on France's experience in PWR technology.
The main goal of the project is to replace CO2 intensive generation sources around the world, providing low-carbon electricity with the added advantage of SMRs for access to remote areas.
Interest in the development of Small Modular Reactors dates back to the 2010s. In addition to the production of electricity, they have other interesting applications such as hydrogen production, district heating or water desalinization.
