EDF has decided to focus on existing technologies for the design of its small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) instead of continuing with its innovative Nuward design. Reuters cited a source at EDF’s Nuward subsidiary that the decision followed talks with prospective clients such as Swedish power utility Vattenfall, Czech power company ČEZ, and Finland’s Fortum, who are examining investments in both third-generation full-size nuclear plants and SMRs.
Potential buyers need security that promised costs will not increase and delivery deadlines will be met and are more willing to invest in a product based on proven technologies, the source reportedly said. In an emailed statement to Reuters, EDF said Nuward had reached the basic design phase, in which the engineering teams were able to study the complete model of the plant in more detail at which point EDF had decided to “evolve the design”. According to the email, the reorientation involves developing a design built exclusively from proven technological components and “will offer better conditions for success by facilitating technical feasibility”. Nuward said a new plan of action on design choice should come in several months.
Earlier, French investigative outlet L’Informé had cited EDF sources as saying the Nuward design was being abandoned after encountering engineering difficulties, and that, to avoid delays or budget overruns, EDF would have to partner with other companies or use off-the-shelf technologies.
Nuward is a pressurised water reactor combining two 170 MWe reactors for a total output of 340 MW. The design included: a nuclear island building that is semi-buried; a fully integrated reactor pressure vessel (RPV); a water immersed steel containment structure; a boron-free primary circuit; and passive cooling.
Development of the Nuward SMR had also involved France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA – Commissariat à l’énergie Atomique et aux énergies Alternatives), French industrial group Naval Group, reactor designer TechnicAtome, nuclear company Framatome and engineering company Tractebel. The Nuward SMR was being reviewed jointly by three safety authorities: the France’s ASN, the Czech Republic’s SUJB (Státní úřad pro jadernou bezpečnost) and Finland’s STUK (Säteilyturvakeskus).
Nuward had received innovation-related state subsidies to develop its technology and had signed agreements with companies across Europe to develop SMRs alongside conventional large reactors. In May, the European Commission approved, under European Union state aid rules, a €300m ($320m) French measure to support Nuward. In 2023, EDF signed an Exclusive Cooperation Agreement with Respect Energy to develop nuclear power projects in Poland at specific sites using its Nuward SMR. A co-operation agreement was also signed in 2024 with Ukraine’s Energoatom to study Nuward.
During the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) 2023 in Paris, EDF Group signed several industrial cooperation agreements intended to secure the involvement of local supply chains and industries for the deployment of future EPR-technology-based and Nuward SMR projects in Europe and worldwide. These included agreements with Canada’s Ontario Power Group (OPG), various Czech companies and India’s Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
