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Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant
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Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant
The Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant is located at Flamanville, Manche, France on the Cotentin Peninsula. The power plant houses three pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Unit 1 and 2, rated 1.3 GWe each, and based on Westinghouse design, were ordered following the Messmer Plan and deliver full power since 1987. Unit 3 is an EPR unit with a nameplate capacity of 1.65 GWe connected to the grid in December 2024 (but still far from full power as of January 2025). The power plant produced 18.9 TWh in 2005, which amounted to 4% of the electricity production in France. In 2006 there were 671 workers regularly working at the plant. In 2023, 11,7 TWh were produced with 1400 regular workers.
Construction of unit 3 began in 2007 with its commercial introduction scheduled for 2012. In charge Areva proved unable to manage this project (just like Olkiluoto 3), leading to the ultimate demise of the company. Various safety problems have been raised, including weakness in the steel used in the reactor. In July 2019, further delays were announced, pushing back the commercial introduction date to the end of 2022. As of 2020[update] the project was more than five times over budget. In January 2022, more delays were announced, with fuel loading continuing until mid-2023, and again in December 2022, delaying fuel loading to early 2024. Fuel loading was completed in May 2024. The reactor eventually started up in early September 2024. and was connected to the grid at 11:48 AM on 21 December 2024.
During the 1970s, Flamanville was one of the proposed construction sites for the French civil nuclear program. A 1975 poll of local inhabitants showed 63.7% in favor of the project.
Following a public inquiry, the formal declaration of public utility was published in 1977, in time for a January 1978 groundbreaking. The official start of construction was recorded as December 1979 for Unit 1 and May 1980 for Unit 2. First criticality was achieved in September 1985 and June 1986, with connections to the grid in December 1985 and July 1986 and full commercial operation in December 1986 and March 1987.
Units 1 and 2 are Generation II pressurized water reactors of hybrid design, with a nuclear island of type P4 and the conventional / turbine island of type P'4.
The reactor coolant systems (reactor vessel, steam generators, reactor coolant pumps) were furnished by Framatome. The two turbine islands (steam turbines, turbogenerators, auxiliary systems, and secondary-side pumps) were provided by Alstom.
Each reactor can produce 3,817 MWt. Gross electric power from the generator is 1,382 MWe, and net electric power, after station consumption, is 1,330 MWe, for a thermal efficiency of 34.8%. In 2025, Units 1 and 2 employed approximately 1,100 EDF employees and contractors, and supplied more than half the electricity required in the Normandy region.
Construction on a new reactor, Flamanville 3, began on 4 December 2007. The new unit is an Areva European Pressurized Reactor type and is planned to have a nameplate capacity of 1,650 MWe. EDF estimated the cost at €3.3 billion and stated it would start commercial operations in 2012, after construction lasting 54 months. The latest cost estimate (July 2020) is at €19.1 billion, with commissioning planned tentatively at the end of 2022.
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Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant
The Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant is located at Flamanville, Manche, France on the Cotentin Peninsula. The power plant houses three pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Unit 1 and 2, rated 1.3 GWe each, and based on Westinghouse design, were ordered following the Messmer Plan and deliver full power since 1987. Unit 3 is an EPR unit with a nameplate capacity of 1.65 GWe connected to the grid in December 2024 (but still far from full power as of January 2025). The power plant produced 18.9 TWh in 2005, which amounted to 4% of the electricity production in France. In 2006 there were 671 workers regularly working at the plant. In 2023, 11,7 TWh were produced with 1400 regular workers.
Construction of unit 3 began in 2007 with its commercial introduction scheduled for 2012. In charge Areva proved unable to manage this project (just like Olkiluoto 3), leading to the ultimate demise of the company. Various safety problems have been raised, including weakness in the steel used in the reactor. In July 2019, further delays were announced, pushing back the commercial introduction date to the end of 2022. As of 2020[update] the project was more than five times over budget. In January 2022, more delays were announced, with fuel loading continuing until mid-2023, and again in December 2022, delaying fuel loading to early 2024. Fuel loading was completed in May 2024. The reactor eventually started up in early September 2024. and was connected to the grid at 11:48 AM on 21 December 2024.
During the 1970s, Flamanville was one of the proposed construction sites for the French civil nuclear program. A 1975 poll of local inhabitants showed 63.7% in favor of the project.
Following a public inquiry, the formal declaration of public utility was published in 1977, in time for a January 1978 groundbreaking. The official start of construction was recorded as December 1979 for Unit 1 and May 1980 for Unit 2. First criticality was achieved in September 1985 and June 1986, with connections to the grid in December 1985 and July 1986 and full commercial operation in December 1986 and March 1987.
Units 1 and 2 are Generation II pressurized water reactors of hybrid design, with a nuclear island of type P4 and the conventional / turbine island of type P'4.
The reactor coolant systems (reactor vessel, steam generators, reactor coolant pumps) were furnished by Framatome. The two turbine islands (steam turbines, turbogenerators, auxiliary systems, and secondary-side pumps) were provided by Alstom.
Each reactor can produce 3,817 MWt. Gross electric power from the generator is 1,382 MWe, and net electric power, after station consumption, is 1,330 MWe, for a thermal efficiency of 34.8%. In 2025, Units 1 and 2 employed approximately 1,100 EDF employees and contractors, and supplied more than half the electricity required in the Normandy region.
Construction on a new reactor, Flamanville 3, began on 4 December 2007. The new unit is an Areva European Pressurized Reactor type and is planned to have a nameplate capacity of 1,650 MWe. EDF estimated the cost at €3.3 billion and stated it would start commercial operations in 2012, after construction lasting 54 months. The latest cost estimate (July 2020) is at €19.1 billion, with commissioning planned tentatively at the end of 2022.
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