France Starts Pre-Licensing Process for Nuward Small Modular Reactor

Electricite de France (EDF), the future operator of the first nuclear power plant based on the Nuward SMR in France, has submitted a document with safety parameters, signifying the start of the pre-licensing process for the installation, to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). Nuward Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are developed by the eponymous subsidiary of EDF.

The document details the safety objectives, design features, and key operating and risk management principles for Nuward SMR. The pre-licensing will allow for early feedback from the ASN before the application for the construction of a nuclear power plant in France is submitted, which is scheduled to start in 2030.

The Nuward Small Modular Reactor uses the pressurized water reactor technology. The nuclear power plant based on this SMR has a capacity of 340 MW with two reactors of 170 MW each. According to EDF Company, such nuclear power plant can replace coal, fuel, oil and gas power plants with high-CO2 release level around the world, as well as provide hydrogen production, city and district heating or water desalination.

Incidentally, last June, EDF Company announced that the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) would team up with the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) to study in detail the regulation of the project, which will be based on the current set of national regulations of each country, the highest international safety goals and reference standards, as well as current knowledge and relevant best practices, EDF noted.

According to the World Nuclear News