France has taken a significant step in bolstering its energy infrastructure by connecting the Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor to the national grid, marking the country’s first new nuclear addition in 25 years. Operated by the state-owned utility EDF, the reactor officially began producing electricity on Saturday at 11:48 am local time (1048 GMT), the company announced.
The 1.6-gigawatt European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) at Flamanville is France’s largest and ranks among the most powerful reactors in the world, rivaling China’s 1.75 GW Taishan reactor and Finland’s Olkiluoto plant.
Originally scheduled for completion in 2012, the project faced extensive delays and budget overruns, pushing the final cost to approximately €13 billion—four times the initial estimate. Despite the challenges, EDF celebrated the milestone as a testament to its engineering expertise and commitment to meeting France’s long-term energy needs.
The reactor’s activation comes at a time when electricity consumption in France remains relatively subdued, even as the country has emerged as a major energy exporter, achieving record exports this year.
Flamanville 3 is the first reactor to join France’s grid since Civaux 2, which was commissioned in 1999. It signals the beginning of a renewed push for nuclear energy as part of President Emmanuel Macron’s energy transition strategy. Macron’s 2022 pledge outlined plans to construct six additional reactors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet climate targets.
However, uncertainties remain regarding the financing and timeline of these future projects. EDF faces mounting pressure to streamline its construction process and avoid the kind of setbacks that plagued Flamanville 3.
The commissioning of Flamanville 3 underscores France’s reliance on nuclear energy, which already accounts for about 70% of its electricity generation—the highest share globally. The country views nuclear power as a cornerstone of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, particularly as the EU tightens emissions targets.
EDF has committed to leveraging lessons learned from Flamanville’s delays to ensure smoother implementation of upcoming projects. The focus will be on enhancing efficiency, controlling costs, and securing funding for Macron’s ambitious plans.
France’s nuclear expansion contrasts sharply with policies in other European countries that have moved to phase out nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. While Germany has shut down its last nuclear reactors, France is doubling down, citing energy security and climate change as key drivers.
The successful integration of Flamanville 3 also reinforces the appeal of EPR technology, which has faced criticism over delays but has gained credibility with operational success in Finland and China.
As EDF prepares to build six more reactors, the focus will be on delivering them on time and within budget, avoiding the pitfalls encountered at Flamanville. Meanwhile, debates around funding models and public support for nuclear expansion will continue to shape France’s energy transition in the coming years.
