Ten small nuclear reactor projects presented to ASN

In total, ten small modular reactor (PRM, also called SMR in English) projects were officially presented to the ASN, even if "all are not at the same maturity", indicated Philippe Dupuy, head of the reactors mission. innovative, during a presentation to the press of the progress of this “new local nuclear power” mainly driven by start-ups.

Considered by their promoters as one of the solutions of the future for on-site decarbonization of fossil fuel-intensive industries, PRMs bring together reactors of smaller size and power than the current fleet of reactors, which produce electricity for the network. In total, more than 80 projects have been identified around the world.

In France, most concern innovative so-called 4th generation reactors (or AMR in English), intended mainly to produce industrial or urban heat. Six of the ten projects propose fast neutron reactors, which have the advantage of burning part of the waste generated by the current electro-nuclear fleet.

The most advanced project is carried out by the start-up Jimmy Energy in another technology, a high temperature reactor cooled with helium. Its designers intend to “go very quickly”, according to ASN.

“Even if we encouraged them (...) to engage with us in a pre-examination of part of their file in terms of security options, they decided to directly submit a request for authorization to create here mid-March to the end of March,” said Mr. Dupuy.

The creation authorization request is the step which allows the examination of the file to be launched, a process which can take three years before an ASN opinion is issued.

Among the ten projects identified by the ASN, there is Nuward, supported by a subsidiary of EDF, which relies on the current technology of light water reactors used for the production of electricity. Currently in the pre-examination phase, Nuward is aiming to submit a creation authorization application at the end of 2026 and the first concrete of the head series around 2030, said ASN.

Another project well underway, based on the same technology, is that of Calogena, which also intends to submit its authorization request at the end of 2026 for its nuclear boiler.