Bidder for Czech Dukovany expansion promises up to a quarter lower price for next project

According to energy company EDF, which is also interested in completing the units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, the company is capable of building two further nuclear units in the UK using EPR-type reactors for up to £5bn less, or 25%. EDF made the statement in connection with the planned Sizewell C project in the UK.

Despite recent problems with the construction and commercial deployment of its new EPR nuclear reactor, EDF remains one of the most significant companies in the sector. In connection with its interest in further projects, it announced that it would be able to build additional British EPR reactors at significantly lower cost.

It referred to the current Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project, which is expected to cost around £20bn in total (approximately €23bn). EDF would reportedly be able to build a plant for up to 25% less when delivering the same project, such as the aforementioned Sizewell C.

The cost of the two units, with installed capacity of 3,300 MW, could be around £15bn, still equivalent to roughly €5,300/kW of installed capacity (approximately CZK 130,000/kW). Even with a 25% price reduction, the cost per kW would therefore be more than twice that of the construction of the Temelín nuclear power plant, which was completed in 2000-2002 for approximately CZK 50,000/kW.

The lower price could also be of interest for other projects that EDF might undertake in the future. Such a project could include a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, where the company has also expressed interest in construction. However, in the case of the EPR reactor, with output of 1,650 MWe, the question remains as to whether its capacity is too large compared with the units currently in operation.

While it cannot be expected that the price reduction for completing units in Czechia would reach the same level as for further units in the UK, it can nevertheless be assumed that additional construction experience could benefit the project. At present, when there are a number of reactors on the market with minimal real-world deployment, any additional experience can be an advantage.

However, it should be noted that EDF's current experience with EPR reactor construction has been rather negative. Projects in France, Finland and China are delayed and significantly over budget compared with the original plan. The Finnish Olkiluoto 3 project will be delayed by at least 10 years, while the reactor in China, which was meant to be the first EPR to enter operation, is also expected to be delayed and completed only during this year.