EDF now tables on a full -speed farm by fall, after twelve years of construction and a first connection to the network in December 2024.
EDF now provides that the Flamanville EPR reactor will reach its full power “Before the end of fall” While the group so far hoped to be able to take this stage by the end of the summer, according to a message on Friday. The extension of a judgment “To carry out a preventive control and maintenance operation on a main primary circuit protection valve” Drive to modify “The date of full power, now scheduled before the end of fall”said the electrician group. The new generation reactor was connected to the electricity network on December 21, 2024, 12 years late.
While the reactor was stopped since June 19 for commissioning test operations, classic for new nuclear installations, EDF decided on July 2 to keep it up to intervene on valves. The nuclear operator had indeed noted during the tests that two of the three valves placed at the top of the pressurist which makes it possible to maintain water from the primary circuit at a pressure of 155 bars “Were not completely compliant” to the expected in terms of“Waterproofing”.
Pass advertising
1,500 security criteria tested
Due to these “hazards”EDF decided on Friday to extend this judgment to carry out a preventive maintenance operation on the 3rd valve. “The expertise carried out on the first two valves lead EDF, in a proactive safety approach, to extend the checks to the third valve by taking advantage of the logistics already in place and mobilizing the available skills”justifies EDF. Restarting the reactor is now scheduled for October 1, in fact shifting the transition to 100% power of the reactor.
“There are 1,500 safety criteria that are tested during a first start (reactor)“, Underlines an EDF spokesperson. During these test and control phases, it is sometimes necessary to “Rebuilding settings”we explain. The new generation reactor was connected to the electricity network on December 21, 2024, with 12 years late compared to the scheduled date.
After a site enamelled with setbacks and technical hazards, the costs of Flamanville 3, the first nuclear reactor to start for 25 years, exploded compared to the initial estimate of 3.3 billion euros. According to a report by the Court of Auditors of January, EDF today estimates its total cost at 19.3 billion euros on the conditions of 2015, and even 22.6 billion euros under the conditions of 2023, “including financing cost”.
