When LED technology enters the heart of the nuclear industry to push back its limits

This project marks a structuring step for ACTiLED Lighting. While the Nantes-based SME has experience in the design and manufacture of LED luminaires to illuminate glove boxes at Orano, a specialist in the manufacture of nuclear fuels; this is its first participation in a large-scale Research and Development program in the nuclear field.

The consortium formed by EDF brings together 4 players with complementary skills and expertise:

• BCEN, Bouygues Construction Nuclear Expertise
• OB'DO, a design and R&D office specializing in smart sensors
• Hubert Curien Laboratory, research laboratory of the University of St Etienne
• ACTiLED Lighting, designer and manufacturer of LED lighting

“The development involves a range of luminaires: linear luminaires, emergency lighting units, panic beacons, and spotlights. This research and development project will allow us to delve deeper into the behavior of materials and electronic components under irradiation and to develop new radiological shielding solutions,” explains Franck Peysson in a LinkedIn post. Peysson is Head of the Resin Division at Bouygues Construction Expertises Nucléaire, a center of expertise dedicated to the development, qualification, and implementation of elastomers in the nuclear sector.

Since 2023, the European RoHS regulation has prohibited the use of fluorescent tubes in order to limit health risks associated with toxic substances such as mercury and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, these new LED solutions could be deployed in new nuclear facilities and/or as replacements for older installations in existing facilities.

According to Etienne Beneteau, associate director at ACTiLED Lighting: “For ACTiLED Lighting, developing an LED lighting system suitable for use in radiological environments represents a major challenge. The constraints are numerous: designing lighting without radiation-sensitive electronic devices, capable of withstanding severe conditions of humidity, high temperatures, and voltage spikes, while complying with strict regulatory requirements. Added to this is the need to guarantee high-quality, powerful lighting that is durable over time and easy to handle to facilitate maintenance operations.”

The company is currently expanding its Research and Development team, based in Sainte Luce sur Loire within its design office. Committed to the ecological transition since its inception, it is ready to take on the challenge of this strategic project aimed at producing low-carbon energy.