AREVA wants your point of view !

Most popular questions

1. If yes, how long would that take? If no, what are the differences between the reactor at Olkiluoto and the one at Flamanville? Please respond in simple language.

   Answer

   Hello,
   AREVA has developed a standard EPR™ reactor model designed to be able to use MOX fuel quickly once it has entered service.
   Depending on their needs and regulatory requirements, our electricity provider customers can choose the MOX option, defining particular conditions for its use (management of the MOX fuel subject to its availability).
   The Flamanville 3 plant construction licence allows for the usage of MOX in its fuel assemblies.
   Eventually, the EPR™ reactor will have the capacity to be fueled with 100% MOX, dependent on customer wants, and the National nuclear regulator’s approval for its usage on the project concerned.

2. Reactors with a capacity of about 50 MWe are now developed (Nuscale, Hyperion, Babcok, Toshiba and many more). They have a number of advantages in terms of cost, ease of installation and maintenance, clustering, etc. Is AREVA (Technicatome, etc.) making any developments in this field and what is your position regarding mini-reactors?

   Answer

   Hello,
   AREVA has not entered the mini-nuclear reactor market for a variety of reasons. The first is historical, namely that today the group aims to capitalize on the expertise it has acquired during the construction of its 87 PWR (pressurized water reactors) around the world over the last few decades.
   Then there is a question of competitiveness. When the installed generating capacity power is more substantial, the specific cost (cost per installed KWe) is optimized. This means our electricity customers can produce cheaper electricity. To respond to its clients’ needs, therefore, AREVA has developed not only the EPR™ reactor (1600 MWe), but the 1100MWe ATMEA1™ reactor with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, and the 1250 MWe KERENA™ BWR (boiling water reactor) in cooperation with E.ON.
   The market for small reactors remains a “niche” market, and in the current climate it is not significant enough for AREVA to pursue with interest.
   In parallel to this development, we are continuing to invest in research reactors, through the Propulsion and research reactors Business Unit (formerly AREVA TA).

3. NGOs are reputed to defend the interests of the general public, while firms are supposed to defend the interests of their shareholders. Is a dialog between NGOs and businesses possible?

   Answer

   Hello.
   As a general rule, businesses are becoming increasingly aware of their importance and their responsibilities in the achievement of development that is sustainable for “all” (emergence of the social / societal responsibility of the enterprise). They have also understood that they cannot grow durably without being in harmony with the common interests of society. Players from civil society (e.g. NGOs) have also, in the eyes of some, grown in stature in terms of expertise and legitimacy, thereby adopting a more important role.
   Today, the dialog between enterprises and NGOs is essential. There are times when the biggest challenge consists in finding the means of establishing effective dialog between the players. Dialog constitutes one of AREVA’s 10 commitments to sustainable development. The group has taken a range of initiatives in this field (More information: http://www.areva.com/EN/group-1266/sustainable-development-10-commitments-form-the-basis-for-continuous-improvement.html).
   Obviously, the goal is not to persuade all the players to share the same opinion, but to benefit from the wealth of points of view based on discussion and dialog. But certain players and the NGOs in particular, still seem to prefer isolation, without any direct exchanges with our group. We want to gradually broaden our basis for dialog.

4. Nuclear energy is a controversial energy source. While its opponents emphasize the risks to health and the environment (accidents, waste), its supporters highlight the advantages in terms of availability, safety and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of nuclear energy?

   Answer

   Hello,
   Firstly, I think it’s important to clarify that there is not just one unique solution to the energy challenges of today and tomorrow. More than energy savings, we support the idea of a mix of energy sources, because as it stands today we are not in a position to rule out one or another.
   That’s why AREVA complements its nuclear offer by developing renewable energy. The particular advantage of nuclear is in providing an abundant and permanent source of electricity at a steady price. In fact, uranium represents only 5% of the price of a KWh. As an extremely concentrated source of energy, nuclear is easy to store, and its reserves are distributed around the world. The Future reactors that are in development today will be able to significantly increase the energy extracted from these reserves. Lastly, while this might not have been the main driver at the time it was developed, nuclear power does not directly emit C02. If each OECD country built four EPRs, we would meet the objectives of the Kyoto protocol. The negative aspects primarily concern its radioactive waste, particularly high-level and long-lasting waste. But we are preparing safe and long-lasting storage solutions for this.

5. Renewable energies offer some clear advantages: they are durable and have a limited environmental impact. They currently account for 6.2% of the total consumption of primary energy in France. Can renewable energies occupy a predominant position?

   Answer

   Hello. Since they do not emit any CO2, renewable energies constitute an immediate response that is well suited to the urgent climatic situation. Consequently, they can and must occupy a key position in the energy mix. Moreover, they form a tight fit with nuclear energy, which already has a significant impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions. AREVA opted for renewable energies a long time ago through its biomass activities in Brazil, India and the United States, the offshore wind turbine activities of its subsidiaries Multibrid and PN Rotor, and the storage and production of hydrogen by its subsidiary Hélion in Aix en Provence, France. More recently, these activities were supplemented by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Renewable energies have become the second cornerstone of AREVA’s business, representing orders of more than €1 billion in 2009. The contribution made by renewable energies will increase in the future. In France, the Grenelle Environment Round Table has set the ambitious target of consuming 23% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. On a worldwide scale, the IEA plans to increase the share of renewable energies in the electric power mix from 3% in 2006 to 13% in 2030. According to UNEP, investments in renewable energies are set to reach $450 billion by 2012 and more than $600 billion from 2020. These forecasts are supported by incentive measures voted by governments as part of their plans to fight climate change. This is the case in France, and Europe, with the Climate-Energy Package, in the Mediterranean Basin with the commitment to the Mediterranean Solar Plan, in China, which has set the extremely ambitious target of investing some $200 billion of public money in renewable energies by 2020, and in the United States with the passing of the ‘American Clean Energy and Security Act’.