EDF's small nuclear reactor project, Nuward, is seeing some of its partners leave the ship, after the company decided to overhaul the design of its project last July.
In an internal email from TechnicAtome, the contents of which Euractiv has seen, the specialist in nuclear naval propulsion reactors asks its teams to “immediately proceed” with “closing operations” of its participation in the Nuward small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) project. ) carried by EDF. This consists of demobilizing the teams working on the project, terminating current contracts, stopping testing activities and documentary production, the document specifies.
This email was sent on July 5, just four days after the announcement made by Nuward on July 1 on Linkedin of “evolve design” of its SMR, that is to say to evolve its design.
The announcement had the effect of precipitating the withdrawal of certain partners from the project.
So from TechnicAtome which, “after participating in the Nuward project until last summer, left the project following the design change decision taken by Nuward management”the company declared to Euractiv in an email received on November 19 confirming our information.
More than 10 years of cooperation
Launched in 2019 with TechnicAtome, Naval Group, Framatome and the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), then joined by Tractebel in 2021, the project until then consisted of two 170 MW SMRs based on pressurized water reactor technology 3rd generation (EPR) like that of the large Flamanville reactors in France or Taishan in China.
But now, the company has hit a bone. In particular, the inability of TechnicAtome to “de-risk” its nuclear boiler, that is to say to make it sufficiently safe to ensure the industrialization of the project, reported the media L’Informed mid-October.
As a result, the project must therefore evolve. A formal decision on its future is now expected for the first half of 2025, although its outright abandonment cannot be ruled out to date.
In the meantime, other partners are wondering about their participation in the project.
What about the other partners?
Thus from Naval Group, the expert in modular structures of submarines and nuclear ships.
According to four indiscretions heard by Euractiv from the SMR community and Naval Group, the company could in fact leave the project. At the time of publication of the article, the company did not respond to three email requests sent by Euractiv.
For the Atomic Energy Commission, the situation is different. The research center, in support of technological design, is not intended to remain in the project, except in technical support when the technology used is considered mature.
Framatome, the designer and supplier of nuclear equipment 80% owned by EDF, should for its part be mobilized to take the lead in the future design based on “proven technologies” of EDF's nuclear fleet, we are told. Euractiv internally at EDF.
Future of the project
Nuward, however, retains the right to use some technological bricks developed by TechnicAtome, with a maximum budget for stopping services and capitalization of 1 million euros, we can read in the email intercepted by Euractiv.
“These are essentially the last deliverables that were in progress at the time the project was stopped”such as the passive cooling system, of which “the decision had already been made to integrate it into the design”, explains an engineer who worked on the file with the boiler manufacturer.
In this configuration, “it is therefore very unlikely that TechnicAtome will be solicited or wish to contribute to the new Nuward design”adds the engineer.
“There is currently no discussion” for a renewal of cooperation, the company advises Euractiv.
