Italy gets EPR nuclear plants

Enel, EDF and Ansaldo Energia have signed an agreement for the development of nuclear power plants in Italy based on the Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design.

The agreement is aimed at specifying areas of potential co-operation between Enel-EDF and Ansaldo Energia — which holds 100 per cent of Ansaldo Nucleare — in the development and construction of at least four EPRs that Enel and EDF, along with Areva technology, intend to build in Italy.

Enel and EDF will act as investors and architect engineers, with overall responsibility for the project management, design, construction and commissioning.

Ansaldo Energia will participate in the qualification and tender process carried out by Enel and EDF for the supply of equipment, installation and engineering systems.

Ansaldo will also bring its expertise in the design, commissioning and licensing of nuclear systems.

The agreement and the related qualification activities will also enable Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare, following the launch of a qualification process by Enel and EDF, to participate in tenders for the engineering and supply activities of EDF’s EPR projects outside Italy.

Nuclear new build

At present, there are as many as 55 new nuclear power plants under construction, based upon different technologies, in 14 different countries.

These new facilities will add more than 50,000MW to the existing installed nuclear generation capacity.

Many other projects are also under development.

Source: EDF