The French utility EDF has connected to the French national grid the 1,650 MW Flamanville-3 EPR nuclear reactor, located in Normandy (north-western France). In September 2024, the French nuclear safety authority ASN (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire) had granted EDF a divergence agreement to start operations on the reactor. In May 2024, EDF had received authorisation from the ASN to begin the startup of Flamanville after 12 years of delays.
Construction of the Flamanville-3 reactor began in 2007, with an initial expected start-up in 2013 and an estimated cost of €3.3bn. However, the project has faced delays and cost increases, with the latest estimate by EDF putting the total cost at €13.2bn. The Flamanville EPR is the first of its kind in France, following the commissioning of EPR reactors in China (Taishan 1 and 2) and Finland (Olkiluoto 3). Two additional EPR units are under construction at Hinkley Point C (United Kingdom).
In 2023, nuclear represented 41% of France’s installed capacity and 64% of its power generation.