Nuclear Power Plants in France
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Belleville Location: Cher Operator: Electricite 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 |
Chooz-B Location: Ardennes Operator: Electricite 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 began operations in 1967 as the first PWR using a design based on the Yankee Rowe plant. Chooz A reactor was shutdown in 1991. The B plant was built in partnership with the Belgian utilities Electrabel and SPE.
Photograph courtesy of www.ct24.cz |
Civaux Location: Vienne Operator: Electricite 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 |
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Flamanville Location: Basse-Normandie Operator: Electricite de France Configuration: 2 X 1,382 MW PWR Operation: 1985-1986 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom Quick facts: Flamanville is the launch site for the EPR reactor in France. Unit-3 is now under construction for service in 2012. First concrete was on 3 Dec 2007 and actual reactor construction is expected to get underway with the arrival of specialists from Areva in Aug 2008. Expected gross output is 1,750 MW.
Photograph courtesy of Electricite de France |
Golfech Location: Tarn-et-Garonne Operator: Electricite 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 by John Seb Barber (wikimedia) |
Monts d'Arree Location: Finistere Operator: Electricite 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 Location: Aube Operator: Electricite de France Configuration: 2 X 1,363 MW PWR Operation: 1987-1988 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom Photograph by
Guillaume Lemarshal and courtesy of EDF |
Penly Location: Seine-Maritime Operator: Electricite de France Configuration: 2 X 1,382 MW PWR Operation: 1990-1992 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alstom
Photograph courtesy of Sité des Informations Dieppoises |
Phénix Location: Gard Operator: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) Configuration: 1 X 250 MW FBR Operation: 1973 (ret 2009) Reactor supplier: CEM T/G supplier: CEM EPC: CEM, Societe General d'Enterprises Quick facts: When closed on 6 Mar 2009, this was the last commercial-scale fast breeder reactor in Europe. Phénix was developed as a prototype fast breeder and EDF had a 20% stake in the plant and was responsible for power generation end. The reactor had been operating at about 140 MWe for 10yrs, but its key function was as a R&D facility for radionuclide transmutation tests.
Photograph by A Gonin and courtesy of CEA |
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Saint-Laurent-A Location: Alsace Operator: Electricite 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) |
Saint-Laurent-B Location: Alsace Operator: Electricite de France Configuration: 2 X 956 MW PWR Operation: 1981 Reactor supplier: Framatome T/G supplier: Alsthom EPC: EDF, Grand Trauaux de Marseille Quick facts: Saint-Laurent is on the Loire about 30km downstream from Orleans
Photograph by Nitot (wikimedia)
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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 |
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[Note: see Top 100 pages for other French nuclear power plants] |
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Abbreviations: CEM = Compagnie Electro-mechanique de Montage, EDF = Electricite de France, FBR = fast-breeder reactor, GCR = gas-cooled reactor, Industries, GTM = Grand Trauaux de Marseille, PWR = pressurized-water reactor, T/G = turbine generator
Data: industcards, Platts UDI World Electric Power Plants Data Base
Updated 04/04/09