EDF's viewpoint

After a period when several types of power reactors were operated, the most part of the French nuclear power plants were built in a 10 years time on the basis of a PWR design. This very important effort allowed France to face the oil crisis and an increase of power demand. Today nuclear energy keeps all its relevance in the French energy mix but a larger contribution of renewable energies is expected progressively. Light water reactors will stay dominant in the 2, 3 decades to come because of their important feedback experience and their economical competitiveness. The emergence of the 4. generation is not sure, it will depend strongly on: -) the available resources of uranium, -) the extend of the use of nuclear energy in the world, and -) its competitiveness compared to the 3. generation. This series of slides is divided into 3 parts: 1) the nuclear power in the French energy mix, 2) 3. generation reactors versus 4. generation ones, and 3) The EPR at Flamanville and in the world (China, Usa and Great-Britain). (A.C.)