France – Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change

Benefiting from more than 50 years of experience in nuclear electricity generation, the French nuclear industry has emerged as one of the world leaders. Existing nuclear power stations and new plant projects contribute to reducing the already low level of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of the French energy sector.

Origin of the French nuclear program

In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, France decided to invest in nuclear energy ? a compact source of energy ? in order to reduce its energy dependence. France launched the most comprehensive nuclear energy program ever which has led in less than 30 years to the construction and current operation of 58 industrial-sized pressurized water reactors (PWR) at 19 sites throughout France.

French nuclear power stations

All PWR reactors in operation are of Generation II type. France is currently building one AREVA EPR™ in Flamanville and plans for one more in Penly. AREVA is also working on other ongoing construction projects in Finland, China and upcoming ones in the USA, the United Kingdom, and Italy. This Generation III+ reactor model combines enhanced safety features, improved fuel utilization and economics and limited waste production. Furthermore, with a 1,650 megawatts output, it is economically competitive with fossil fuel plants.

Nuclear production and safety

Reaching a power capacity of 63 gigawatts, the nuclear plants operated by the French utility EDF account for nearly 80% of French generated electricity. The competitiveness of nuclear electricity and the large volume of baseload electricity generated in France enable exports to other European countries, making EDF the world’s largest net exporter of electric power.
The 40 year experience of industrial operation of nuclear energy has provided France with a demanding and high quality safety culture. The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), which is responsible for regulating nuclear safety and radiation protection in order to protect workers, the public and the environment from the risks involved in nuclear activities, was established as an independent body.

Recycling

France has always been sensitive to nuclear waste management issues and aware of the risk of exhaustion of uranium resources. It has developed for many years a strategy for recycling its spent nuclear fuel ? fuel that cannot sustain nuclear reactions anymore ? instead of considering them as waste to be disposed. About 85% of EDF’s spent fuel is reprocessed today at the La Hague plant in Normandy. Plutonium is recycled in MOX fuel and ultimate waste is vitrified and stored in small buildings, in La Hague, awaiting for final disposal. This process currently allows saving of up to 25% of uranium resources and diminishes the volume and level of radioactivity of final waste awaiting underground disposal by a factor of respectively 5 and 10. Additionally, final waste after recycling doesn’t raise proliferation concerns and is hence relieved from safeguard obligations.

Environmental and GHG benefits of nuclear in France and potential for the United States: how cap and trade can support nuclear energy.

The environmental footprint of nuclear plants is very small, since they do not generate the pollution and CO2 byproducts of regular fossil fuel plants. Mostly due to nuclear energy, total pollution from the country’s energy system dropped by more than 80% during the 1980 to 1990 period where France tripled its nuclear energy capacity. Over the same period of time, French overall CO2 emissions (energy, transportation…) were cut off by 25%.
If the United States were to adopt a cap and trade system, with an hypothesis of about $20 per metric ton of CO2 emitted, each new nuclear reactor on the basis of the EPR™ reactor in project in Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, would allow saving 5 million metric tons/year of CO2 emissions and $100 million/year in permits purchase, compared to a gas powered station; 11.5 million metric tons/year CO2 emissions and more than $230 million compared to a coal powered station.