EDF has completed acquisition of GE Vernova’s steam nuclear activities covering conventional island equipment for NPPs excluding servicing activities in the Americas. This follows the exclusivity agreement signed between EDF and GE in February 2022, the final agreement signed in November 2022, and fulfilment of all required conditions.
GE Vernova said it “retains its nuclear services business in the Americas to drive its simpler, focused Steam Power business, as well as its GE Vernova-Hitachi nuclear business providing fuels, services and reactors, including BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) technology”. It also retains GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a leading lifecycle provider for reactor islands, global nuclear fuels, and services, which is working to deploy commercial, grid-scale SMR technologies.
Through the acquisition, EDF Group will acquire key technologies and skills for the nuclear industry and European energy security. These activities, employing around 3,300 people, will be managed by Arabelle Solutions a wholly-owned subsidiary of EDF. Arabelle Solutions will supply equipment for new NPPs and will also maintain and upgrade equipment in existing plants.
EDF says Arabelle Solutions steam turbines will be used in particular in the EPR, EPR2 (European Pressurised Reactor) and SMR (small modular reactor) reactor series.
EDF Chairman & CEO Luc Rémont said the acquisition of Arabelle Solutions makes it possible to deploy the technologies and the maintenance services that are pivotal both for EDF and other nuclear operators in France and abroad. This “supports the relaunch of nuclear reactor construction, which Europe needs in order to decarbonise its economy and ensure its energy sovereignty, with a fully autonomous European industrial sector”. Arabelle Solutions “will strengthen our industrial expertise in the nuclear value chain alongside Framatome”. Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Arabelle Solutions.
“As a world leader in nuclear turbine island technologies with extensive service capabilities, a third of the world’s nuclear power plants already rely on our steam turbine technology and services to generate carbon-free electricity”, said Frédéric Wiscart, CEO of Arabelle Solutions. “With decades of innovation in nuclear power behind us, Arabelle Solutions is in an excellent position to support the growing number of countries that view nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source.”
In 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for a new reactor building programme during a visit to GE Steam Power’s Belfort manufacturing site in eastern France. He welcomed the acquisition in a statement on X: “This is a commitment that I made in Belfort: EDF is taking over the nuclear activities of General Electric from today, in particular the manufacturing of Arabelle turbines. A big step for our energy sovereignty.”
