EDF employee checks data in the control room, inside the reactor building on the site of the third-generation European Pressurised Water nuclear reactor (EPR), as the Flamanville 3 power plant is ready to start in Flamanville, France, April 25, 2024.
While EDF has scaled back its international involvement with large-scale nuclear reactors, its new SMR model is intended for global deployment, targeting energy-intensive industries such as metallurgy and data centers that require stable and efficient power supply.
Currently, no small modular reactor has entered mass production, but competition in the sector is intensifying as companies worldwide pursue commercialization of smaller, more flexible nuclear systems. These reactors are viewed as a potential complement to traditional large-scale reactors, offering lower capital requirements and faster construction timelines.
EDF previously discontinued its earlier SMR design to focus on established and reliable nuclear technologies. The Nuward SMR is expected to generate 400 megawatts of electricity and 115 megawatts of heat, making it suitable for providing continuous baseload energy for industrial use, Garrel said in an interview with Reuters at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris.
The first prototype of the Nuward reactor is projected to come online in 2035. Garrel said: “We are confident to deliver electricity and heat at a competitive price, and that the market will have a need for us.” EDF plans to build one reactor per year after the prototype, eventually reaching four units across two countries.
EDF’s development timeline lags behind some European and North American competitors. Dutch company Thorizon expects to bring its reactor into service by 2030, while U.K.-based Newcleo aims to deploy its first prototype by 2031. In Canada, Ontario Power Generation has already begun constructing its prototype small modular boiling water reactor.
EDF has not yet confirmed whether the first Nuward reactors will be built in France or in other European locations. A company spokesperson said that site selection will depend on several factors, including industrial partnerships and regulatory conditions.
Financing for the Nuward project is expected to be sourced from the French government, industrial customers, financial institutions, and private investment funds. The detailed cost estimates and finalized conceptual design will align with EDF’s broader investment schedule, which includes its decision on a fleet of six large EPR2 reactors planned for France by the second half of 2026.
Through the Nuward initiative, EDF seeks to strengthen its position in the emerging SMR market, offering an adaptable energy solution for industrial and grid applications while contributing to long-term low-carbon power generation objectives.
