WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 23
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/
sizewell-c-gets-green-light-with-昀椀nal-investment-decision
161
https://strategicenergy.eu/french-electricity-hits-record-lows-may/
162
https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/afp/programme-depr-la-cour-des-comptes-publieun-rapport-critique-et-recalcule-le-cout-de-昀氀amanville-3-250114#:~:text=Selon%20un%20
chi昀昀rage%20d'EDF,pr%C3%A9cise%20la%20Cour%20des%20Comptes.
163
https://energynews.pro/en/edf-and-the-french-state-agree-on-e70-billion-plan-forepr2/#google_vignette
160
which are adapted from the technology developed
for nuclear-powered icebreakers. These reactors are
already manufactured in series. A project in Yakut,
featuring six RITM-200N reactors, is expected to be
launched by 2027. Russia is also involved in an export
project in Uzbekistan, which will also utilize RITM167.
China operates the world’s 昀椀rst modular high
temperature gas-cooled reactor168 as well as two other
SMRs.
• In 2024, more than 80 SMR165 designs were in development,
however there were a limited number of SMR in operations
or under construction.
√ SMRs are operational or under construction in Russia
and China. Russia operates a 昀氀oating nuclear power
plant, called “Akademik Lomonosov,” which has two
SMRs with a 35 MW capacity each. Regarding land
SMRs, Rosatom which presently hold over 70% of the
large reactor’s export market share, is working towards
extending this market reach in the SMR space166. It
has developed the RITM-200N series SMRs reactors,
164
https://www.ccomptes.fr/sites/default/昀椀les/2025-01/20250114-La-昀椀liere-EPR%20-unedynamique-nouvelle-des-risques-persistants.pdf
165
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/
small-nuclear-power-reactors
166
https://www.neimagazine.com/analysis/russia-bets-big-on-small-reactors-11673678/
167
https://www.neimagazine.com/analysis/russia-bets-big-on-small-reactors-11673678/?cf-view
168
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/
Chinese-HTR-PM-Demo-begins-commercial-operation
WEMO 2025
After securing its financing, the UK Energy Secretary
signed on July 22, 2025, the final investment decision
for Sizewell C, t wo EPR2 1600MW reactors 160 .
To maintain its very low-carbon electricity mix and despite a
short-term electricity surplus161, France plans to build six new
EPR2 nuclear reactors with a new design aimed at simplifying
the construction. They are projected to cost €79,9 billions (in
2023€)162 with a Final Investment Decision that should be taken
in 2026. The 昀椀rst reactors to be built at Penly (Normandy) is
targeting 2038 for operational start. In June 2025, EDF and
the French State 昀椀nalized a more than €70 billion 昀椀nancing
plan163 awaiting European approval by 2026. The 昀椀nal EPR2
design is due to be approved by the end of 2025.
• Root causes of large reactors construction overruns in
western countries. The construction of Flamanville 3, EPR
French reactor, began in 2007 with an initial cost of €3.3 billion
and a 2012 completion target. The commercial operation was
delayed to December 2024, over a decade later. The 昀椀nal cost
reached €23,7 billion164 The construction of Vogtle Unit 3 and
4, Westinghouse AP 1000 reactors, in Georgia (US), started
in 2009 with a $14 billion budget and 2016-2017 completion
goal. Costs soared to over $30 billion, with Unit 3 operational
in July 2023 and Unit 4 in April 2024.
22
• Build new large reactors: Presently 65 large reactors are under
construction, mainly in Asia, the Middle East and South America.
The new US administration policy aims for construction of
300GW additional capacity by 2050 and the nuclear renaissance
in Europe is favouring new constructions (see above).
France, the UK, Czech Republic, Sweden, the Netherlands
and Poland among others have projects to build large new
nuclear plants as well as SMRs (Small Modular Reactors).
