EDF - Nuclear energy: the linchpin of safe and competitive electricity generation without CO₂ emissions

Within a period spanning less than 20 years, EDF has built up a uniqueand competitive nuclear fleet in France, this fleet playing aninstrumental role in securing the country’s energy supply : 58 reactorsmaking up a total installed capacity of 63.1 GW and accounting for morethan 85% of the electricity generated by EDF. This extensive fleet hasearned France the rank of second largest nuclear power producer in theworld, after the United States.

In response to the forecast growthin electricity demand primarily due to emerging energy uses, expertsagree that the sole recourse to renewable energies and energy-savingschemes will not suffice to cover these new needs. A key advantage ofnuclear energy is that it does not emit CO₂, while at the same timegenerating safe and competitive electrical power. Thanks to thecombined output of EDF nuclear and hydro power generation facilities,95% of the electricity generated in France does not produce greenhousegas emissions.

Because electrical power plants in France emitone-tenth of the average amount of CO₂ produced by EU power utilities,French legislation establishing the main outlines of the country’senergy policy was passed in July 2005, whereby a deliberate choice wasmade to keep the nuclear option open. In January 2009, the FrenchPresident revealed plans to build a 2nd EPR reactor on the Penly sitein Seine-Maritime, based on the model of the one being built atFlamanville in the Manche, in order to consolidate France’s andEurope’s secure energy supply.

This decision corroborates theGroup’s long-term industrial strategy: developing new generationfacilities that do not emit CO₂, while at the same time continuing tomake nuclear  safety the top priority and constantly improve theperformance of a mature nuclear fleet. French nuclear power plants wereactually designed to operate for at least 40 years. Ensuring theirlong-term operability, together with constantly improving safetystandards, is of vital importance for EDF. All plant operations,inspections, maintenance activities and refurbishment programmesimplemented since the commissioning of the EDF nuclear fleet havebeen geared towards optimizing plant performance and ensuringworld-class safety standards, thus providing EDF with the confidence itneeds to continue operating its plants beyond the 40-year milestone.

Byvirtue of French legislation, the French nuclear regulatory body isinvested with the authority to independently grant permission forreactors to continue operating for a further 10 years, based on theresults of an extensive 10-yearly regulatory inspection known as a“10-year outage”. The third set of ten-tear outages marking 30 years ofoperation at Tricastin 1 in the Drôme and Fessenheim in the UpperRhine, will take place in 2009. At the same time, and withoutundermining the regulator’s final decision, EDF - as part of an effortto revitalize its capital expenditure programme - is currently workingon the implementation of a far-reaching industrial programme that willenable it to continue operating its nuclear fleet for considerably morethan 40 years.

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the energymarket in Europe, is an integrated energy company active in allbusinesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply andtrading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. InFrance, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where95% of the electricity output involves no CO₂ emissions.

EDF’stransport and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,274,000 kmof low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity linesand around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Groupis involved in supplying energy and services to more than 38 millioncustomers around the world, including more than 28 million in France.The Group generated consolidated sales of € 64.3 billion in 2008, ofwhich 47% in Europe excluding France. EDF is listed on the Paris StockExchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

Contact
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