EDF has announced a stop to work at Nuward, its subsidiary that has been developing an innovative design for small-scale modular reactors for 4 years. Investors fear costs and timing problems that French engineers have failed to resize. The new course consists of fishing among the options already available on the market today
Italy is also focusing heavily on mini-nuclear reactors
It works on one of the two legs of the French nuclear strategy. The state utility EDF has abandoned the project, which is already underway, to develop its innovative technology for Small Modular Reactors, SMR. The target of focusing on small-scale reactors remains, but EDF will choose from the available options.
Between EPR and SMR
Along with a new fleet of EPR reactors (6 plus 8 optional), the option of Small Modular Reactors was chosen by the Élysée to firmly return the atom to the center of the national energy mix—dismissing previous plans to lower its share below 50%—and to revitalize the national nuclear industry.
In both cases, it is a question of introducing innovative technologies, but at a very different level of development. In the case of the EPRs, the third-generation advanced European pressure-water nuclear reactors already have operational plants. Not without problems, from chronic ones (time and necessary investments that are expanding, as for Oilkuoto in Finland and Flamanville in France) to acute ones (presumed design defects that could have contributed to the accident at the Chinese plant in Taishan).
The SMRs, the other hand, are still largely “theoretical”. There are 4 units in operation, two in Russia and two in China. However, in many cases, projects involving the use of small modular reactors are based on technology that is still in development. Rolls-Royce is developing its proprietary design, also thanks to the injection of resources from London. NuScale, in the United States, is doing the same (con meno successo). Similarly, EDF has created its edge dedicated to the SMRs, Nuward. Today, after 4 years, he decided to discharge.
Paris changes plans on Small Modular Reactors
According to the original plans, between 2019 and 2022 the concept of the design of the ultra-alpine SMRs was to be developed. Between 2023 and 2025 technology upgrading and pre-licensing were to take place, with marketing to begin as early as next year. By 2030, Nuward promised to be able to build the first small modular reactor.
According to Nuward sources heard by Reuters, the farewell to this project would ripen after the dialogue with potential investors of the caliber of Vattenfall, CEZ and Fortum. They are also considering the EPR option. And they showed scepticism about the SMRs. The reason? There is no guarantee of compliance with completion times and final costs. EDF, however, will continue to work on mini-reactors. But developing a design based on existing technological elements.
also read Triple the nuclear, at COP28 alliance of 22 countries
With the new PNIEC 2030, Italy confirms interest in SMRs
The Meloni government is also very much inspired by the French renewal of nuclear power. The MASE has repeatedly referred precisely to the option of bringing Italy back into the club of the atom by focusing on nuclear mini-reactors and fusion. In these two areas is the work of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear, launched in 2022, and, therefore, the Italian sector chain.
The new PNIEC Italy 2030 just presented to the EU also defined the atom’s role in the national mix with some “nuclear scenarios”, both for fission and fusion. Forecasting 0.4 GW in 2035 will rise to 2 GW in 2040, 3.5 GW by 2045, and 8 GW by half a century (di cui 0,4 GW da fusion). Except for this small share by 2050 from the merger, everything else should come from SMR, which would cover about 11% of the national mix. That could grow to 22%, still by 2050, in a less conservative scenario, that is, exploiting the full theoretical potential estimated by the Platform.
