EDF to Connect Flamanville EPR Reactor to Grid on December 20 After 12-Year Delay, Costing 13.2 Billion Euros

Dec 18, 2024, 11:16 AM

EDF has announced that the EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville will be connected to the electrical grid on Friday, December 20, marking a significant milestone after a 12-year delay. The reactor, initially expected to start operations in 2012, has faced numerous technical challenges, resulting in a cost escalation from an estimated 3.3 billion euros to 13.2 billion euros. The construction of the reactor, which began 19 years ago, has culminated in this long-awaited event. Following the connection, the reactor will operate at various power levels until the summer of 2025, concluding the testing phase. Once the testing is complete, the reactor is expected to run at full capacity until its first scheduled maintenance and refueling, known as the Complete Visit 1 (VC1). The EPR, with a capacity of 1,600 MW, is the 57th reactor in France's nuclear fleet and the 4th of its kind worldwide, ultimately intended to supply electricity to approximately 2 million households.