Summary of 4th Lecture Meeting on September 16, 2000
Nuclear Power in France
By Dr. Mari Mrianne UEMATSU
Docteur ès Sciences Première Assistante du Conseiller Nucléaire
The followings were presented in the meeting:
Nuclear Power Generation - An Outline History of Development -
1956 :
Electricité de France (EDF) nuclear power generation plan started
Construction of 6 natural-uranium fueled gas-cooled rector (UNGG)
: Chinon A1, A2, A3, St Laurent 1, 2, Burgey 1
1962 :
Construction started of the first pressurized light-water rector (305MW, Chooz A)
1962-1966 :
Construction started of experimental fast fast breeder reactor (Rapsodie) by Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)
1967 :
Electricity generation by Chooz A (305,000kW)
1969 :
Abandonment of UNGG development
Plan for pressurized light-water rector development selected
1970-1988 :
Construction started of first pressurized light-water rector (900MW)
Construction plan for 34 plants within 16 years
1973 :
First criticality of prototype fast breeder rector (Phenix)
1976-1986 :
Construction started of large scale pressurized light-water rector (1,300MW) Construction plan for 20 plants
1977 :
Construction started of demonstration fast breeder reactor (1,200MW) Superphénix
1984 :
Construction of N4 type pressurized light water rector (14,550,000kW) was started (Chooz B1)
1987-1993 :
Construction started of N4 type pressurized light water rector (Chooz B2, Civaux 1, Civaux 2)
December 1999 :
Electricity generation from first N4 type pressurized light-water rector Civaux 2
Pressurized light water reactor
| | 900MW Series | 1,300 Series | N4 type |
Electric power
Thermal Power
Fuel exchange
Number of plants |
800,000-915,000
2,775,000
1/4(1/3MOX)
34 plants |
1,300,000-1,335,000
3800,000
1/3
20 plants |
14,550,000
4,250,000
1/3
4 plants |
Electricité de France (EDF) - Current Status -
•Installed capacity (as of December 31, 1999)
Nuclear: 63 000 MW
Fossil fueled: 17 200 MW
Hydraulic: 23 300 MW
Total installed capacity: 103 500 MW
•Exported electric power : 63.7 TWh (1999)
| Amount of export electric power (Unit : TWh) |
Italy
15.4 |
UK
15.3 |
Germany
13.8 |
Spain
7.1 |
Switzerland
7 |
Belgium
5.1 |
| Total export electric power : 63.7 |
•Alternative energy
A target to install wind power generation equipment of from 250 to 500MW by 2005 has been set up by Christian PIERRET Parliamentary Vice Minister in charge of industry.
EDF started a construction plan for the wind power generation facilities : EOLE2005.
• The construction of a wind power generation site of 21 units (200MW in total) is planed as part of this plan.
• The first wind power generation facilities (750MW) started operation in July 2000 (Widehem, Pas de Calais prefecture)
• A construction schedule for five additional generation facilities on the Widehem site (total forecast power generation during year : 12GWh)
Additionally, renewable energy development (excluding hydro-power)
•Co-generation by GDF (Gaz de France)
• By 1998, co-generation facilities had supplied 25GWh(th) by thermal energy conversion at located plants in Northern France.
Radioactive waste disposal and disposal
•Five organizations which relate to used fuel processing policy of France
- Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) : Research on nuclear rectors and nuclear fuel cycle
- Electricite de France (EDF) : Power generation, power transmission and the electric power buying and selling
- FRAMATOME : Nuclear rector facilities construction and fuel assembly manufacturing
- COGEMA : Nuclear fuel cycle
- ANDRA (French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency) : Radioactive waste management and disposal
•The law of 30 December 1991
Law concerning research on radioactive waste processing an disposal
The French congress must decide the policy of radioactive waste processing and disposal within 15 years (i.e. by 2006). Moreover, it is prohibited to dispose of radioactive waste from foreign countries on French territory.
ANDRA, originally established as a section of CEA in 1979, became the research and facilities management organization concerning radioactive waste processing and disposal under this law, under the direct control of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Science Research, and The Ministry of the Environment.
•Processing and disposal of high-level waste
In the above-mentioned law, three research programs for the long-lived high-level nuclear waste processing an disposal are specified :
• Separation and conversion of radioactive nuclides (CEA)
• Long-term storage in underground facilities (CEA)
• Deep layer disposal (ANDRA)
Construction of an underground laboratory at Bure (clay layer, Meuse prefecture / Haute Marne prefecture) was authorized by the government on August 3, 1999.
•Disposal of law-and intermediate-level waste (Mainly short and medium half-life β and γ)
• La Manche
Operation started in 1969 and finished in July 1994
Total waste storage capacity : 525 000m3
• L'Aube
Operation started in January 1992 and will be operated for 50 years
Total waste storage capacity : 1 000 000m3 (20 000m3 per year)