Flamanville EPR reactor shuts down automatically the day after start-up, checks underway

The Flamanville EPR experienced its “first nuclear reaction” on Tuesday and must ramp up before being connected to the network “by the end of autumn”.

The EPR nuclear reactor in Flamanville (Manche) has experienced a “automatic shutdown” the day after its start-up, Wednesday September 4. EDF teams are carrying out technical checks and analyses before being able to restart its “divergence”that is, the nuclear reaction, announced EDF.

“According to the first elements of the technical diagnosis, this shutdown could be linked to an inappropriate configuration of the installation”said the EDF spokesperson. The latter “would have led to the automatic shutdown of the reactor in accordance with the design mechanism”added the spokesperson, who specifies that “The teams are carrying out the necessary technical checks and analyses, following the usual procedures, and then they will restart the reactor divergence.”.

“Starting up is a long and complex process [qui] requires a lot of testing, trials, and it can lead to shutdowns of this type”she stressed, adding that “This proves that the security system is working well”. According to Nicolas Goldberg, energy expert at Colombus Consulting, “It is a very complex industrial process start-up and it is therefore common to encounter setbacks.” “This does not call into question the start-up”adds the expert, “you just have to be patient”.

The EPR in Flamanville (Manche), a new generation nuclear reactor, experienced its “first nuclear reaction” which marks the beginning of its power increase in successive stages. It must reach 25% power to be connected to the electricity network, which must occur “by the end of fall”according to EDF. The start-up is 12 years behind schedule due to numerous technical setbacks and mishaps that have caused the bill to explode, now estimated at 13.2 billion euros by EDF.