EDF can begin commissioning its new Flamanville reactor after a 12-year delay

French energy company EDF can begin commissioning its new reactor at the Flamanville nuclear power plant. Today, it received permission to do so from the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). According to the press, this is a significant milestone for EDF, as construction of the new reactor is 12 years behind schedule.

ASN issued a decision that “authorises EDF to carry out operations to initiate the nuclear fission reaction in the reactor”. ASN will continue to oversee the reactor’s start-up and authorise increases in electricity output.

EDF expects to connect the new reactor to the grid by the end of this autumn. This should happen when the reactor reaches 25 percent of its capacity. That is several months later than the French company had expected. The reactor could reach 100 percent capacity by the end of the year, French media report.

At 1600 MW, the new reactor at the Flamanville power plant will have the highest output in France. That is around 500 MW more than the output of one unit at Temelín. Once it is connected to the grid, 57 reactors will be operating in France to generate electricity.

Construction of the new reactor is around 12 years behind schedule. Costs are estimated to have reached 13.2 billion euros, while the original project budget was 3.3 billion euros. In 2020, however, the French Court of Audit estimated the “final bill” at 19 billion euros, including the project’s financing costs. That is around 503 billion crowns at the 2020 exchange rate.