EDF to cut Gravelines 4 reactor output from 910 MW to 442 MW

EDF to cut Gravelines 4 reactor output from 910 MW to 442 MW

EDF (Électricité de France), the primary electricity generation and distribution company in France, has announced a significant reduction in the output of its Gravelines 4 reactor. The reactor's output will be decreased from 910 MW to 442 MW, a reduction of approximately 50%. This decision comes amidst ongoing inspections and maintenance work at the reactor, which has been shut down since May 2022 due to stress corrosion concerns.

The move is part of a broader strategy by EDF to address the safety and reliability of its nuclear fleet following the Fukushima I nuclear disaster in 2011. The company has been actively upgrading the protection of vital functions in all its nuclear reactors to prevent a similar catastrophe. As of June 2020, France has 56 operable reactors, one under construction, and 14 shut down or in decommissioning [1].

The reduction in output at Gravelines 4 will impact France's nuclear generation capacity. According to EDF's latest estimates, the country's nuclear output for 2022 is projected to be between 280 and 300 TWh, down from the previous estimate of 379.5 TWh in 2019 [2]. This adjustment reflects the temporary shutdowns and maintenance work required to ensure the safety and reliability of France's nuclear fleet.

The decision to reduce the output of Gravelines 4 also has financial implications. EDF has estimated that the decrease in output will impact its EBITDA for 2022 by €18.5 billion. The company's generation costs from the new Flamanville European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) are estimated to be at least in the 70-to-90 EUR/MWh range, depending on construction outcomes [3].

In 2015, the National Assembly voted that by 2025, only 50% of France's energy will be produced by nuclear plants. However, the environment minister, Nicolas Hulot, noted in November 2017 that this goal is unrealistic and postponed the reduction to 2030 or 2035 [4]. The ongoing maintenance and safety upgrades at nuclear reactors like Gravelines 4 are part of the broader strategy to meet these targets.

References:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_France
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_France
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_France
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_France