French state-owned utility EDF plans to build 10 small modular nuclear reactors across the European Union by 2035, a program aimed at strengthening energy security and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The project would use technology developed by EDF’s NUWARD subsidiary. According to EDF executives, the first reactor is expected to be built in France, with another planned for Italy. Discussions are also under way with governments including Poland, Belgium and Finland.
NUWARD design targets 400 megawatts
The NUWARD concept is expected to produce about 400 megawatts of power and heat. Unlike conventional large nuclear plants, small modular reactors are designed around standardized components that can theoretically be built faster and with lower construction risk.
EDF said the 10-reactor program would require investment measured in the tens of billions of euros. The company is working with industrial partners across Europe to establish a supply chain capable of supporting the first projects during the 2030s.
France and Italy deepen nuclear cooperation
The plan builds on a Franco-Italian industrial partnership announced earlier this year. Edison, EDF, NUWARD and several Italian engineering and construction companies signed a declaration of intent in June to support development of a European third-generation SMR based on NUWARD technology.
Those partners include companies with experience in nuclear engineering, power equipment and large infrastructure. The effort reflects renewed European interest in nuclear energy as governments seek low-carbon power sources that can operate independently of weather conditions.
Europe is racing to catch up
EDF is trying to accelerate its SMR strategy as projects in the United States, Canada and other markets move toward commercial deployment. The company previously pursued a more complex design but simplified the concept after concerns about cost, engineering risk and construction delays.
The 2035 target remains ambitious. Nuclear projects in Europe have frequently faced regulatory delays and cost overruns, and SMR technology has not yet reached large-scale commercial deployment. Even so, the program signals that EDF sees smaller reactors as an important part of Europe’s future energy mix.
Sources: Reuters, EDF/Edison project disclosures and NUWARD materials.
