EDF Energy has initiated testing at Flamanville 3, located on the Normandy Peninsula, marking the first reactor to be commissioned in France in decades.
The reactor is currently undergoing a "divergence operation," as described by EDF. This process involves generating a stable nuclear reaction at an initial power output of just 0.2% of its capacity. The power level will then be gradually increased to 25%. If all tests proceed as expected, the reactor will be connected to the grid.
EDF aims to achieve this milestone by late autumn. Once fully operational, Flamanville 3 will play a crucial role in meeting France's energy demands.
The facility, which can be seen from the Channel Islands on clear days, is a third-generation EPR pressurised water reactor.
The reactor's activation comes after a 12-year delay, primarily due to issues with its concrete base slab and the need to retool certain components. These challenges have led to significant budget overruns, amounting to billions of euros.
A recent report assessed the nuclear risk posed by Flamanville to the Channel Islands as modest and did not recommend any special precautionary measures.
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