Nuclear power and SMR are central to the "France 2030" investment plan [fr]
President Emmanuel Macron presented, on October 12, the "France 2030" plan, a large investment plan that amounts to 30 billion euros in total for actions whose results are expected by 2030.
"France 2030" responds to the great challenges of our time, in particular the green transition, through a massive investment plan to bring out the future technological champions of tomorrow and support the transitions of our sectors of excellence: energy, automotive, aeronautics or space.
The first of the 10 objectives of this plan is to "bring about the emergence in France of small, innovative nuclear reactors with better waste management". EUR 1 billion will be invested by 2030 to achieve this goal.
The President mentioned that small modular reactors, known as SMRs, are “much safer” and he recalled that “always improving safety while reducing costs” remained a priority.
Currently, a small nuclear reactor design called "NUWARD" is under development in France. This project is supported by the French consortium gathering EDF, CEA, TechnicAtome and Naval Group. This pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology-based solution is intended to meet the growing needs of the low-carbon, safe and competitive electricity market worldwide in the 300-400 MWe power segment.
On this occasion, Emmanuel Macron also clearly reaffirmed that France "will continue to need" nuclear technology.
The day before the announcement, a group of 10 EU countries led by France and Poland, signed a joint opinion article published in major European newspapers stating that "nuclear energy must be part of the solution ” to the climate crisis and rising energy prices. The Ministers of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic were signatories.
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