Posted on 01/24/2023 7:39:48 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Will French nuclear power plants be able to operate for up to 80 years? What will be the cumulative effects of climate change on reactors? What will happen to future radioactive waste? On Tuesday, January 24, senators are expected to adopt the nuclear acceleration bill, which aims to facilitate the start of work on the sites where six new European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) could be built. Concurrently, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has called for a “global and systemic” reflection on safety issues as part of the debate on the future of the energy system.
The discussions need to cover the entire nuclear field and not just new reactors,” ASN President Bernard Doroszczuk said on Monday, January 23, in an address to the press. “It is important that in the next few years, we have the information needed to justify the structural factors that determine the nuclear component of the energy policy.”
Among these assumptions is that of increasing the life span of current reactors. During a hearing at the Assemblée Nationale on Thursday, January 19, EDF’s executive director in charge of nuclear power plants, Cédric Lewandowski, assured the audience that the question of extending their life to 80 years was “on the table.” In February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron had already expressed his willingness to extend the reactors beyond 50 years – the period until which the oldest reactors in the fleet are currently authorized to operate – provided they “pass” their fourth 10-year visit.
[The consequences of addition to cheap Russian energy are a powerful incentive to keep these reactors in operation. It might be better to tailor the extensions to cover building new reactors with more current technology to replace these — hopefully sooner than in 30 years. — Ed]
Great news, this kind of political shift is some of the positive fallout of Russia’s invasion.
Them pipes get brittle under radiation exposure. Hope they have a plan for replacement.
Zero. Zip. Nada! Just like its effects on everything else.
Yes it’s excellent news!
Europe is purging itself from Russian oil dependence way better and much faster than ever imagined!
This is a win for a true independent Europe working hand in hand with America.
Generally, most of the European/Russian nuke plants had a 20-year operating plan, then a full-year or two of maintenance/inspection (down-time), then a certificate would be created to say it was worthily for 20 more years, and the on-switch would be flipped.
France has been doing heavy maintenance on their reactor fleet, so an extension is probably being planned anyway. And they are building several more. Give the French credit—they are not willing to count on windmills and solar panels to keep the lights on.
Radiation fatigue of the metal in reactors is why regular monitoring and replacement as needed are now the industry practice.
I think its a great Idea to keep extending them until the materials all deteriorate to the point that they all blow up! After all the engineers that designed them didn’t know what they were talking about when they set a lifetime expiration.
I find this both awesome and hilarious!
Is there anyone alive who built them?
Where the fuel is going to come from once Russia refuses to send it and takes Niger over?
“What will be the cumulative effects of climate change on reactors? “
Hilarious. What will be the effect of climate change on our arsenal of thermonuclear warheads? Will our enemies’ cities be easier to incinerate because they are starting out 1 degree warmer than they were 100 years ago?
Inquiring minds want to know.
I’ve always admired the French use of nuclear power. Many smaller plants all built the same...
I alway mention to my demented lib friends that I wish every state in the union could have as many nuclear power plants as France. There little heads just can’t accept that we are the only country shooting ourselves in the head by fearing it.
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