The Nuclear Safety Authority authorizes the extension of the oldest French reactors
The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has validated the continued operation of EDF's nuclear reactors beyond their fourth periodic review. This decision should allow oldest French nuclear reactors to operate for ten additional years ASN nevertheless requested security work.
32 900 MW reactors affected by the ASN decision
In a press release published on February 25, 2021, ASN considers that “ all the provisions planned by EDF and those it prescribes open the prospect of continued operation of these reactors for the ten years following their fourth review periodical” . The periodic review takes place every ten years, and the oldest reactors were designed with “ an assumption of 40 years of operation ”. However, some of these reactors have just celebrated their 40th anniversary .
This is the case for reactor 1 of the Tricastin nuclear power plant, which was the first to pass its 4th periodic review in 2020. In total, 32 900 MW reactors are affected in the Blayais and Chinon nuclear power plants. , Bugey, Dampierre, Graveline, Saint-Laurent des Eaux, Tricastin and Cruas-Meysse.
ASN asks EDF to carry out a series of tests and work
Decision no. 2021-DC-0706 , adopted on February 23, 2021 by ASN, also provides that the operator carries out “ major safety improvements” . Each must take into account the particularities of each installation, for example seismic risks in certain territories. The measures taken by EDF will also be the subject of a public inquiry, and ASN requests that the modifications and improvements be made public.
An extension to compensate for the delay in the delivery of the new reactors?
The extension of the operating life of the oldest reactors should allow EDF to maintain its level of electricity production, while awaiting the installation of new units such as the Flamanville pressurized reactor (EPR), for example. Their output should approach 1600 MW, when that of the old reactors is 900 MW.
Energy transition: less nuclear power in electricity production
This decision comes as the law on energy transition provides for a reduction in the share of nuclear energy in French electricity production. Nuclear energy represented 379.5 TWh in 2019, or 70.6% of French electricity production. It was to be reduced from 70 to 50% by 2035, with a share of renewable energies at 32%. But there is still work to be done for RE to reach this figure. In 2019, these represented 17.2% of gross final consumption, according to official figures . Their development also stalled in 2020, as noted by the Barometer of renewable electrical energies in France . In this context, storage solutions will also have an important role to play in securing and stabilizing the electricity supply.
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