Nuclear Power Plants in France
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Belleville Location: Cher Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 1,363 MW PWR Operation: 1987-1988 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom EPC: EDF, GTM Quick facts: Belleville is on the Loire River. The plant was authorized in Nov 1978.
Photograph courtesy of Autorite de Surete Nucleaire |
Blayais Location: Gironde Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 4 X 951 MW PWR Operation: 1981-1983 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Spie-Batignolles, Dumez Quick facts: Blayais celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2011. Since operation began, the plant has supplied 674 TWh to the French power system. In 2010, production was 26.3 TWh. In 1976, construction started at the 227ha site on the Gironde Estuary in Braud Saint Louis. Units 1&2 began using MOX fuel in 1997 and 1994, respectively. In 2004, the rotor was changed out at Uni-2 giving an additional 30 MW of output.
Photograph courtesy of EDF |
Bugey-1 Location: Ain Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 1 X 555 MW GCR Operation: 1972 (ret 1994) Reactor supplier: multiple vendors T/G supplier: Rateau, Jeumont-Schneider EPC: EDF, Dumez Quick facts: Bugey-1 was the last GCR built by EDF and was selected as the lead French gas reactor for decommissioning. The 100ha site on the Rhone River was later expanded with four 900-MW PWRs. The final dismantling phase of Bugey-1 was authorized by decree in Nov 2008 after a public inquiry conducted in 2006. EDF is modeling the activity on work previously done at the Ft St Vrain GCR in the USA. The work is to complete in 2025.
Photograph courtesy of France Télévisions |
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Cattenom Location: Moselle Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 4 X 1,362 MW PWR Operation: 1986-1991 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Spie-Batignolles, Dumez Quick facts: Cattenom is on the Moselle River. The site was approved in 1978 although opposed by the Luxembourg government. The site was formerly used as the garrison for one of the infantry regiments responsible for defending the Maginot Line which traversed the area. Makeup for the cooling towers is from a purpose-built reservoir known as Lake Mirgenbach in the Vosges Mountains.
Photograph courtesy of EDF |
Chinon Photograph by Marc Morceau and courtesy of EDF |
Chooz-B Location: Ardennes Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 1,560 MW PWR Operation: 1998-2000 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom EPC: EDF, Bouygues Quick facts: EDF chose this site on the Franco-Belgian border in the early 1960s as it was close to high-voltage transmission lines to Belgium. Chooz-A (310 MW) began operations in Apr 1967 as the first PWR using a design based on the Yankee Rowe plant. The unit was shutdown in Nov 1991 and in Apr 2010, Westinghouse Electric was awarded a contract to provide reactor vessel dismantling services. The project is expected to take 6½ yrs to complete. The "B" plant was built in partnership with the Belgian utilities Electrabel and SPE.
Photograph courtesy of www.ct24.cz
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Civaux Location: Vienne Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 1,561 MW PWR Operation: 1998-2000 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom EPC: EDF, Bouygues Quick facts: The sister N4 units at Chooz-B and Civaux are the largest nuclear generating units in the world. The Civaux units were authorized in 1986 and approved for construction in 1998. Unit-1 went commercial in Aug 1999. The plant reportedly cost $4.1bn. The Arabelle turbines are 51.2m long, 12.8m wide, and weigh 2,810t. The cooling towers are 180m and 153m in diameter at the base.
Photograph courtesy of Omega Concept |
Cruas Location: Ardeche Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 4 X 956 MW PWR Operation: 1983-1984 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Campenon-Bernard Quick facts: Cruas is on the Rhone River between Valence and Montelimar. Construction started in 1976. The painting entitled Aquarius on one half of one of the cooling towers is the work of Jean-Marie Pierret and was painted with the assistance of 9 climbers. The work took 4,000l of paint and took about 8,000hrs to complete. It was inaugurated in 2005.
Photograph by theisencamille (Panoramio) |
Dampierre Location: Loiret Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 4 X 937 MW PWR Operation: 1980-1981 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Chantiers Modernes, Sainrapt et Brice, Ballot Quick facts: Dampierre's production in 2010 was 24.9 TWh, or 5% of all French power production. The 180ha site is on the Loire River in Dampierre-en-Burly. Construction started in 1974 and Dampierre connects to the 400kV substation la Tabarderie north of the site.
Photograph courtesy of EDF |
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Fessenheim Location: Haut-Rhin Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 920 MW PWR Operation: 1977 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Campenon-Bernard Quick facts: In 1967, this site along the Grand Canal d'Alsace 23km northest of Mulhouse was selected for deployment of a pair of 750-MW units. The project was uprated to 950-MW sets by the time construction started in Jun 1970. Unit-1 was commissioned in Mar 1977 and connected to the national grid in Aug 1977.These are the oldest nuclear units still in operation in France. Production in 2009 was 8.7 TWh.
Photograph by Florival fr (wikipedia) |
Flamanville Location: Basse-Normandie Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 1,382 MW PWR Operation: 1985-1986 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom Quick facts: Flamanville is on the Contentin Peninsula. In part, the plant site consisted of an old granite quarry, then an ion ore mine, which was in operation until 1962. The NPP site is 120ha, half of which is reclaimed land.
Photograph courtesy of Electricite de France |
Flamanville-3 Location: Basse-Normandie Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 1 X 1,750 MW PWR Operation: 2014 Reactor supplier: Areva T/G supplier: Alstom EPC: Areva, Alstom, Bouygues Quick facts: Flamanville is the launch site for the EPR reactor in France. Site preparation began in 2003, the EDF Board of Director approved the project in May 2006, and the reactor was ordered Jan 2007, the 100th reactor ordered from Framatome (Areva). ASN licensed the unit in March 2007 and first concrete for the power block was placed on 3 Dec 2007 to schedule. The original estimated cost of the new unit was €3.3bn. The schedule later slipped about 2yrs while the estimated cost was raised to about €5bn. Enel SpA has a 12.5% stake in Flamanville-3. Photo from Mar 2010.
Photograph courtesy of Autorite de Surete Nuclcaire (ASN) |
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Golfech Location: Tarn-et-Garonne Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 2 X 1,363 MW PWR Operation: 1991-1993 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom Quick facts: Golfech is on the Tarn River between Agen and Toulouse. Site development dates to 1965, but the project was deferred until reactivated in 1973. In 1978, the site was released for construction of four 1,300-MW reactors but only two were eventually built. The first unit went commercial on 1 Feb 1991.
Photograph courtesy of EDF |
Gravelines Location: Nord Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 6 X 951 MW PWR Operation: 1980-1985 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Societe General d'Enterprises Quick facts: Gravelines is on the North Sea coast near the mouth of the As River 21km east of Calais. It is the largest NPP In western Europe and the 3rd largest in the world. In 2008, plant output was 37.6 TWh. On 27 Aug 2010, Gravelines delivered its 100 millionth MWh to the grid, becoming the first nuclear power station to reach the petawatt-hour landmark. Part of the cooling water discharge is routed to local aquaculture facilities.
Photograph courtesy of EDF |
ITER Artist's conception courtesy of ITER |
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| Marcoule G1 Location: Gard Operator: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) Configuration: 1 X 5 MW GCR Operation: 1956 (ret 1968) Reactor supplier: SACM T/G supplier: ?? Quick facts: This was a prototype of the French Uranium Naturel Graphite Gas (UNGG) reactor, a gas-cooled design developed in parallel to the Magnox reactors in the UK. Ten larger units were built, including Vandellos-1 in Spain, the only example outside France reactor gas. The G1 reactor was completed on 7 Jan 1956 after 18mos of construction. It was shutdown in 1968. La "cheminée" a 100m ventilation stack at the G1 reactor that was a site landmark, was demolished on 9 Jul 2003 following two years of preparation. Photograph courtesy of Archives de France |
Marcoule G2 & G3 Location: Gard Operator: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA), COGEMA Configuration: 2 X 43 MW GCR Operation: 1959 (ret 1984) Reactor supplier: SACM T/G supplier: Rateau Quick facts: There were the next two UNGG reactors and were mostly used for plutonium production. Level 2 decommissioning status was achieved in 1997. Marcoule is planned to be the site for Astrid, a prototype, 600-MW Generation IV sodium fast reactor. This may be built adjacent to the Phenix FBR by 2020. Photograph by J M Taillat and courtesy of Areva/CEA |
Monts d'Arree Location: Finistere Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 1 X 82 MW HWR Operation: 1967 (ret 1985) Reactor supplier: Groupement pour les Activites Atomiques et Avancees T/G supplier: Compagnie Electro-mechanique de Montage Quick facts: Construction of this experimental heavy-water, CO2-cooled reactor started on 1 Jul 1962. Criticality was on 23 Dec 1966 and the plant went commercial on 1 Jun 1968. The unit was shutdown on 31 Jul 1985 and is being decommissioned at an estimated cost of €482mn. Also known as Brennilis. Photograph by Loic (wikimedia) |
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Nogent Photograph by Guillaume Lemarshal and courtesy of EDF |
Paluel Photograph by Patrick S Dupont (Panoramio) |
Penly Photograph courtesy of Sité des Informations Dieppoises |
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Phénix Photograph by A Gonin and courtesy of CEA |
Saint-Alban Photograph courtesy of Areva |
Saint-Laurent-A Location: Alsace Operator: Électricité de France Configuration: 1 X 390 MW, 1 X 450 MW GCR Operation: 1969-1971 (ret) Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Grand Trauaux de Marseille Quick facts: The A units were retired in 1990 and 1992, respectively. Unit-A1 went commercial in Jan 1969. In Oct 1969, there was a partial fuel meltdown in one of the fuel channels caused by operator error during online refueling. Several modifications were made to the refueling system and the reactor was repaired and restarted about a year later. Photograph by Clicgauche (wikimedia) |
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Saint-Laurent-B Photograph by Nitot (wikimedia) |
Superphénix Location: Isère Operator: Centrale Nucleaire Europeene a Neutrons Rapides SA (Nersa) Configuration: 1 X 1,242 MW FBR Operation: 1986 (ret 1998) Reactor supplier: Novatome T/G supplier: Ansaldo EPC: Nersa Quick facts: This was the world's largest fast breeder reactor and was designed for power generation. The site is on the Rhone River not far from the Swiss border. Design work began in 1968 as construction started on the Phénix plant. Construction on Superphénix was approved in 1972 and got underway in 1974. The reactor was connected to the grid in Jan 1986. Plagued by technical problems and growing political opposition, it operated intermittently for years – generating a total of 8 TWh – and was finally shutdown in Dec 1998. The total investment was about €9.1bn. Nersa is 51% owned by EDF. Photograph by Yann Forget |
Tricastin Photograph courtesy of easydep.com |
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Data: industcards, Platts UDI World Electric Power Plants Data Base
Updated 01-Feb-2012