Cooperation between France and the United Kingdom to relaunch civil nuclear energy | EUROtoday

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Ulocal weather change, worldwide tensions, power disaster… Perceived as a vital pillar of the transition, civil nuclear energy is in full revival. Nuclear electrical energy manufacturing is anticipated to achieve a file in 2025, with 2,800 terawatt hours (TWh), up 7% in comparison with 2021, anticipates the International Energy Agency, which forecasts (at a minimal) a doubling of put in manufacturing capacities by 2050. Today, China and Russia dominate this market. To the purpose of resulting in new strategic vulnerabilities tomorrow?

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This is the chance that Western gamers within the sector see rising, whereas their governments in Europe hesitate to outline long-term methods. “Our learned societies wanted to answer these questions: how to properly build third generation reactors, while paving the way towards sustainable nuclear power,” explains Yves Bréchet, member of the Academy of Sciences (and former excessive commissioner for ‘Atomic Energy), who supervised a part of this work.

The significance of worldwide cooperation

The results of an in-depth session of specialists representing governments, industries, universities and nationwide laboratories, the report revealed by the Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society proposes 9 areas of strategic collaboration, and highlights the plain: in the meanwhile the place the race for brand new nuclear energy is intensifying, worldwide cooperation can be of essential significance to resolve the challenges.

Signed on December 6 in Tokyo, an settlement between the French gasoline big Framatome and its Japanese companions illustrates this new collaborative dynamic: it makes it doable to relaunch the event of sodium-cooled quick neutron reactors, a strategic expertise that France had carried out. pending in 2018 with the termination of the ASTRID program. This cooperation will permit the Japanese to profit from the French expertise acquired with the Phénix and Superphénix reactors, whereas permitting Framatome to take care of its experience.

The present panorama reveals the dimensions of the challenges. France manages a fleet of 56 pressurized water reactors which offer 70% of its electrical energy. The United Kingdom depends on a extra modest however technologically diversified fleet: eight superior gas-cooled reactors (AGR) and one PWR, guaranteeing 15% of its electrical energy manufacturing. These ageing installations require a very delicate extension.

In a context of local weather emergency and deterioration of the geopolitical scenario, it’s time to work collectively.Sue Ion, nuclear professional on the Royal Society

The delays and extra prices of the present EPR tasks, each at Flamanville and at Hinkley Point C, have highlighted the necessity for a profound overhaul of practices. “A step back is necessary for the EPR2 to correctly integrate the project management of the 21ste century and improves the constructability of a very complex design,” the specialists observe. This lesson in humility doesn’t dampen the ambitions: the United Kingdom is aiming for a nuclear capability of 24 GW by 2050, whereas France plans the development of six to 14 new EPRs.

Strategic distribution of efforts

Nuclear renewal would require an enormous mobilization of abilities. The two international locations might want to practice round 100,000 folks within the coming decade, at the same time as a wave of retirements is looming. On EPR websites alone, the wants are colossal: every development requires, for instance, the every day presence of 1,200 metal fixers…

To reply to this problem, the academies advocate the creation of an built-in coaching ecosystem: joint college packages at grasp’s and doctoral ranges, exchanges of technicians, elevated mobility of researchers, and so forth. And to unencumber funds, an “intelligent distribution” of efforts analysis and growth.

ALSO READ Nuclear: parliamentarians denounce the abandonment of the Astrid undertakingThe UK, the report suggests, capitalizing on its expertise with AGRs, would take the lead in growing excessive temperature reactors (HTGRs). These methods are significantly promising for hydrogen manufacturing, water desalination and decarbonization of heavy trade, able to offering warmth as much as 1,000°C. France, for its half, would proceed its work on quick neutron reactors, important for optimizing using uranium sources.

Because this complementarity should prolong, for the academies, to the gasoline cycle. France, which practices the “closed cycle”, already produces MOX gasoline and reprocessed uranium (RepU), lowering its demand for uranium by 10%. The nation has dedicated to constructing a brand new reprocessing facility by 2040-2045. The United Kingdom, which has simply stopped its reprocessing actions in 2022, offers experience in dismantling. “France and the United Kingdom must quickly regain their full capabilities in the fuel cycle, including enrichment, conversion, deconversion and manufacturing,” insists the report.

The difficulty of business sovereignty

The query of strategic independence occupies a central place. “There is no longer a global supply chain, even for items as basic as assembly screws!” » alarms one of many specialists consulted. The case of lithium-7 hydroxide, used to alkalize reactor water and solely produced in Russia and China, illustrates the necessity to rebuild European autonomy.

To notice these ambitions, the academicians suggest the quick creation of a “United Kingdom-France expert contact group”. This construction would depend on a community of current establishments: the CEA and the National Nuclear Laboratory, the colleges of the 2 international locations, the regulatory our bodies. Research infrastructures could be shared, just like the Jules Horowitz analysis reactor, during which worldwide companions already take part.

A daring proposal can be rising: the harmonization of practices between French and British regulators – regulatory convergence deemed all of the extra related as EDF operates on either side of the Channel.

A tense worldwide context


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The Franco-British initiative intervenes in a worldwide panorama in full reconfiguration. China asserts its nuclear ambitions, Russia maintains its technological affect, and the United States is relaunching its trade due to the Inflation Reduction Act. “It takes 70 to 80 years to achieve a fleet of 100% fast reactors. We need 60 years of available fuel to give investors confidence,” the report remembers.

“In a context of climate emergency and deterioration of the geopolitical situation, it is time to work together if our countries want to respect their net zero commitments and secure their energy supply for the rest of this century”, concludes Sue Ion, professional in nuclear energy on the Royal Society.


https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/une-cooperation-entre-france-et-royaume-uni-pour-relancer-le-nucleaire-civil-09-12-2024-2577548_23.php

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