EDF lifeline as 3 French nuclear reactors to go online just before Christmas

But five days ago, EDF announced the restart of two reactors. Now, the maximum installed capacity of the reactors in service now stands at 41.3 gigawatts (GW). According to Mr Rémont, this has “enabled us – with the support of the French people, who are showing sobriety, to which I pay tribute – to get through this first cold period of the season without any difficulties on the network”. 

But in even better news, he announced that “three additional reactors” would be “connected by Christmas”. This marks a vast improvement from August, when there were only 24 nuclear reactors online, with nuclear power usually generating 70 percent of France’s electricity. 

According to Thomas Veyrenc, executive director of french grid operator RTE’s strategy, forecasting and evaluation division, the announcement of increased capacity will help to keep the lights on. 

He said at the round table meeting that was organised ahead of a bill on accelerating procedures for the construction of new nuclear facilities: “If we are at around 45 GW in January, the situation will be better than what we could have anticipated in September. We certainly have the means to avoid blackouts.”

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1710025/edf-nuclear-energy-national-grid-blackouts