The opening of the European Pressurized Reactor in Flamanville comes 12 years late on the initial schedule.

Summary

France’s Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor, its most powerful at 1,600 MW, was connected to the grid on December 21 after 17 years of construction plagued by delays and budget overruns.

The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), designed to boost nuclear energy post-Chernobyl, is 12 years behind schedule and cost €13.2 billion, quadruple initial estimates.

President Macron hailed the launch as a key step for low-carbon energy and energy security.

Nuclear power, which supplies 60% of France’s electricity, is central to Macron’s plan for a “nuclear renaissance.”

  • @[email protected]English
    14•1 month ago

    Seems like a waste investing so much in the U-235 cycle. Aren’t the thorium and U-238 cycles better? Like, more compact footprint, simpler design, more scalable, doesn’t need to be located near a large body of water etc.

      • @[email protected]English
        0•1 month ago

        The U-235 fuel cycle produces way more plutionium than the U-238 cycle, though.

        EDIT: Aw, fuck, I typed it wrong. U-238 produces more plutonium than U-235. My criticism still stands.

        • @[email protected]English
          9•1 month ago

          I know just about noting about nuclear fuel cycles, but yes, more plutonium sounds exactly like what the French want. They have an arsenal to feed.

          • @gaaelEnglish
            12•1 month ago

            The military nuclear is the main reason behind our civilian nuclear infrastructure, which was planned during the cold war. It looks like once per century the military can have an unintended positive effect, yay.

              • @gaaelEnglish
                1•1 month ago

                Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way advocating for military nuclear (or even for anything military).

          • raoulEnglish
            7•1 month ago

            France stopped production of military fuel 30 years ago.

            The current goal is about recycling the existing nuclear waste, to reduce the need for long term storage and natural uranium.

    • @passiveaggressivesonarEnglish
      0•1 month ago

      Thorium is still umproven, and was even more so in 2007. Until (or if?) the Chinese TMSR LF1 really takes off no private company will risk trying a thorium reactor