Nuclear new build must be part of the French economic recovery plan. Sfen Position Paper, 13.05.2020

This SFEN position paper has been produced by the SFEN 'Economy and Energy Strategy' Expert Group to highlight how the nuclear new build programme will contribute to the recovery plan. In the electricity sector, where investments are essential in the long-term, the response of the American President Franklin Roosevelt to the crisis of 1929 provides much insight, as the New Deal 'sought to drive three areas of action: emergency intervention, recovery, and a profound change in the social project (relief, recovery, transformation)'. This position paper focuses on the last two objectives: recovery and transformation. The decision to launch the proposed nuclear new build programme with 6 EPRs would be an effective stimulus for the French economy. Its effects would be significant from 2021 onwards, in line with long-term strategic objectives. 1. Construction of an EPR, a strategic infrastructure, would create many short-term jobs in the nuclear supply chain, where the share of French companies is estimated at more than 80%. This would mitigate the effects of the crisis in other industrial sectors. It would also consolidate sector skills, at a pivotal time for the industry with the commissioning of the first EPRs, where many lessons have been learnt, and trigger the series effects necessary to ensure the competitiveness of nuclear new build. Nuclear new build, with one of the lowest rates of imports in its value chain, would also have a strong ripple effect on the rest of the economy (in France, each euro invested in nuclear generates 2.5 euros in the rest of the economy), in particular at the local level where the plants will be constructed. The programme has already reached several key milestones towards enabling a decision to be taken by mid-2021. 2. In the ongoing debates on the 'New World' after the shock of COVID-19, nuclear energy ticks three essential boxes: it is one of the key contributors to achieving France's climate objectives; it is essential for guaranteeing the resilience of the electrical system to future shocks; and it is the backbone of France's energy and industrial sovereignty. In addition, the nuclear industry will be the ally of European re-industrialisation strategies, providing competitive low-carbon electricity to 4.0 factories, as well as its technologies and expertise in industrial innovation. The nuclear community is ready to mobilise and participate in the economic recovery efforts and, as such, contribute to the transformation of our society. (authors)