France has activated a new nuclear reactor at the Flamanville power plant on the Normandy coast, marking the first time in 25 years a new reactor has been connected to the French grid. Flamanville-3, France’s largest nuclear reactor, has a capacity of 1.6 gigawatts, sufficient to power over 1.5 million households.
The reactor will undergo a testing phase over the next few months and is expected to operate at full capacity by summer. President Macron hailed the reactor’s launch as a significant event for the nation, enhancing France’s competitiveness and contributing positively to the climate as nuclear energy does not emit CO2.
However, the reactor’s construction faced significant challenges, taking 17 years instead of the planned five, with completion initially scheduled for 2012. The costs soared to over 13 billion euros, four times the initial budget.
France now has 57 operational nuclear reactors, the highest number in Europe. While former President Hollande aimed to reduce nuclear energy’s share, President Macron has since announced a “renaissance” for France’s nuclear sector.
Source: NOS