France's most powerful nuclear reactor – the Flamanville EPR – finally connected to the national electric grid overnight on Friday.
Initially scheduled for Friday morning, the historic connection – France's first new reactor since 1999 – was postponed twice but finally occurred overnight, according to electricity provider EDF.
The operation will start at a very low power level, around 20% of its capacity, to ensure everything is functioning correctly, said Régis Clément, Deputy Director of EDF's Nuclear Production Division, in a press conference.
Between 10 and 15 stops and restarts are planned for the reactor, located in northwest France, which will reach full power by summer 2025 during its first 18-month industrial activity cycle, he added.
This grid connection marks a significant milestone for the project, which has faced numerous technical setbacks, delaying completion by 12 years.
The EPR, or European Pressurized Reactor, is the fourth of its kind in the world, with two in China and one in Finland. Another is under construction in the United Kingdom. Once operational, it will supply electricity to about two million households.
The introduction of this 1,600 MW reactor, the most powerful in France, comes as the country's electricity consumption remains about 6% lower than pre-Covid-19 levels.
