French Local Section of the ANS
Section Française de l'ANS
French Nuclear Society
Société Française de l'Energie Nucléaire
(SFEN)
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| American Nuclear Society (ANS) |
French Local Section of the ANS Section Française de l'ANS |
French Nuclear Society |
The French Section of the American Nuclear Society (SFANS) is a learned Society, the statutory mission of which is to promote cooperation between France and the United States in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
SFANS MAIN CONSTITUENCIES
The CEA is a major player in research, development, and innovation. It focuses on three main fields: energy; information and health technologies; and defense. Through the diversity of its programs, it pursues two major objectives: (1) to become the leading European scientific and technological research body and (2) to guarantee the continuation of the nuclear deterrent. It intends to achieve these objectives through a mutually beneficial crossed engineer/researcher culture, favoring synergies between fundamental research and technological innovation, exceptional installations (super computer, research reactor physics instruments, power lasers, etc).
The CEA is fully involved into the industrial and economic fabric with a staff of over 15,000 employees, and a budget of $ 2.7 billions. The CEA operates nine centers throughout France and takes advantage of the presence and solid partnerships with other research bodies, local institutions, and universities. In order to encourage the transfer of knowledge, the CEA places strong emphasis on education and information to the public. Recognized as an expert in its fields, the CEA is a full partner of European research and is increasingly present at the international level.
The AREVA group is the worldwide leader in energy (nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel cycle, and electricity transmission and distribution) and aims for one-third of the global nuclear market. The AREVA group has manufacturing facilities in over 40 countries and a sales network in over 100. Today, the group has 70,000 employees with sales of revenues of € 10.1 millions in 2005.
The EDF Group is a leading player in the European energy industry, present in all areas of the electricity value chain, from generation to trading, and increasingly active in the gas chain in Europe. Leader in the French electricity market, the Group also has solid positions in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. In the electricity sector, it has the premier generation fleet and customer portfolio in Europe and operates in strategically targeted areas in the rest of the world. The group is also the leading network operator in Europe, giving it a sound business model, equally balanced between regulated and unregulated activities.
The Group profile is about € 51 billions in sales in 2005, 130,000 MWe installed capacity, a staff of 161,000, and 40.2 million customers in the world. After the opening of the capital, in October 2005, EDF has become a joint stock limited company. Its capital is owned by: the French State (87,3%), public institutions and individuals (10,8%), and by former and current employees of the Group (1,9%).
EDF’s nuclear fleet is divided into three series of available electrical power (900 MW, 1300 MW, 1500 MW) totaling 58 units in service, spread over 19 sites. The units were commissioned from 1978 to 2002. The total installed capacity is 63,130 MWe, as of December 31, 2005.
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Frank Carré |  |
Rosine Couchoud |
RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Following the tradition, the ANS French Section (SFANS) has invited the ANS President Harold Mac Farlane to its General Assembly held on September 25, 2006 at the Club France-Amériques in Paris. On this occasion, he gave a presentation on “A New US Nuclear Energy Lanscape” to a large audience including in particular this year, many young nuclear engineers as well as senior executives from French nuclear research and industry, international agencies, and ministries.
During his visit to France, President Mac Farlane had several meetings in particular with the French Section Board and with AREVA senior executives. With the French Section Board, President Mac Farlane reviewed the ongoing relationship between the ANS and the French Section and discussed how to enhance the international role of the Society in the framework of the current ANS Strategic Planning process.
In addition to these meetings, a one day technical tour was scheduled to CEA/Cadarache Research Center, highlighting nuclear fuel development with the lab scale fuel fabrication facility GAIA, the LEFCA (Laboratoire d’Etudes et de Fabrication de Combustibles Avancés) and the MASURCA (MAquette SURgénérateur de CAdarache) critical facility.
Section members are very active in the sponsorship and organisation of ANS Topical Meetings and periodic International Conferences held in the US and in France. After a very busy year in 2005, with the International Topical Meeting on Mathematics and Computation, Supercomputing, Reactor Physics and Biological Applications, and the eleventh International Topical Meeting on Thermal Hydraulics, both held in Avignon (France), several French nuclear experts are involved in the next important international meeting to be held in France, “ICAPP 2007” International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, scheduled in Nice, May 13-18.
The French Section has conducted an award selection among three French PhD students working in nuclear research laboratories at AREVA, CEA, and EDF and interested in participating in ANS Topical or Annual Meetings to be held in the US.
This year, the three awardees were graduates from three different universities: Pauline Gentner from the Ecole des Mines de Paris; Paul Gauthé from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon; et Sébastien Belon from the French Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology. Each of them will receive a grant which covers travel expenses, registration fee, and accommodation to allow their participation in an ANS Meeting to be held in the US in a near future.
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Pauline Gentner |  |
Paul Gauthé |
In the framework of the International Exchange Program (ISEP) sponsored by ANS, USDOE, and the French Section, two French students from the Ecole des Mines de Paris: Pierre Hanania and Aurélien Bernard have been selected to spend a three-month internship in Argonne National Laboratories.
Conversely, in the framework of specific exchanges with US universities, two American students benefited from an internship at AREVA, and the CEA will host during one year an American student from the University of Wisconsin.
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Pierre Hanania |  |
Aurélien Bernard |
Total gross electricity production in France in 2005 was 549 TWh. Of this, nuclear power contributed 430 TWh (78%), while hydro and fossil plants contributed 56 TWh (10%) and 59 TWh (10%) respectively. French exports of electricity in 2005 amounted to 60 TWh.
While French energy policy has the development of renewable energy as an objective, with a target reaching 21% of electricity production, the policy recognizes that the nuclear option is to remain a major component of electricity generation. Fifty-two percent of the French public has a positive perception of nuclear energy.
As a result of the high usage of nuclear power, France has a CO2 emission of only 6.22 tons per capita compared to 10.29 in Germany, 9.52 in Japan, 9.19 in Austria, 17.53 in Australia and 19.73 in the US.
An energy policy debate took place throughout France in 2003 and 2004 on issues such as security of supply, economic issues, waste, safety, greenhouse gases, and other environmental impacts. In July 2005, legislation was passed, defining the main directions of France’s energy policy, and confirming nuclear energy as an important part of the national energy mix, and the objective of a 21% share of renewable energies in total energy production. The new legislation opened the door to two major decisions:
(1) The change of statutes of the State-owned electricity utility Electricité de France, now becoming a joint stock limited company. With this measure, France complies with requirements of the European Commission about the liberalized energy market in Europe;
(2) The preparation of the modernisation of the French nuclear reactor fleet, with the decision to launch the process leading to the construction of a new pressurized water reactor EPR. With a capacity of 1,600 MWe, the EPR, developed by AREVA NP (owned by AREVA and Siemens) is expected to meet utility demand for greater availability, ease of maintenance, and reduced costs.
Several European electric utilities could be interested in an industrial partnership with EDF in the construction of the new French plant.
At the end of 2005, President Jacques Chirac announced the launching by the French Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA) of the design of a prototype reactor of fourth generation, intended for commissioning in 2020. Industrial or international partners would be associated in this project. Meanwhile, in March 2006, the French Parliament voted the setting up of an independent High Nuclear Safety Authority (HASN) in charge of nuclear installations safety control, radiation protection in hospitals and research centres, and of information in emergency situations.
At the beginning of 2006, the CEA and USDOE renewed their bilateral collaboration agreement, on the two topics of future nuclear systems (advanced fast neutron and gas-cooled reactors, large scale hydrogen production, advanced materials), and fuel cycle (separation, transmutation). This followed a full scale demonstration by CEA teams in Marcoule of an advance actinides separation process in three steps: Purex-Np (Np+Pu+U separation, more than 10 kg in the Atalante facility); Diamex (Am+Cm+Lanthanides separation); and Sanex (Am+Cm separation).
In February 2006, the CEA and ROSATOM (Russia) signed the MNEPR (Multilateral Nuclear Environment Program in the Russian Federation) cooperation Protocol.
In May 2006, the new CEDRA installation for waste conditioning and intermediate storage started operation in Cadarache.
Several European countries’ research organisations in Belgium, Finland, and the Czech Republic have signed bilateral participation agreements with France for the building and operation of the CEA research reactor JHR (Jules Horowitz Reactor). The construction will start in 2007 in Cadarache and the reactor is scheduled to be commissioned in 2014.
New appointments:
On July 21, 2006, Jacques BOUCHARD, special advisor to the CEA Chairman, was elected as President of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF).
On September 1, 2006, Jacques FIGUET was appointed Counsellor for nuclear affairs in the French Embassy in Washington, succeeding to Régis Babinet. Prior to his appointment, Jacques Figuet was Deputy Director of the Cadarache French nuclear center.
EDF launches an EPR unit
Following a public debate, the board of Directors of EDF has decided in May 2006 to launch the building of its first EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) unit on the Flamanville site (which already comprises two existing units). Launching of the EPR is essential in renewing EDF’s nuclear generation mix. In the current economic conditions, the cost of this investment is estimated at € 3.3 billions, which gives an estimated generation cost of 46 € per MWh. Commissioning of the plant is planned for 2012.
EDF to cooperate with the US energy company Constellation Energy
EDF signed in June 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding with the US energy company. According to this agreement, both companies will work together to define the ways EDF will provide Constellation Energy’s subsidiary Constellation Generation Group (CGG) with a package of services sustaining the development of advanced EPR-type nuclear plants in the US. They agreed to explore further axes of cooperation as exchanges of engineers, documentation, technical assistance and EPR-type reactors services useful for the licensing, designing, building, and operating processes.
AREVA aims for one-third of global nuclear market
Areva is aiming for one-third of the world market covering the entire nuclear fuel cycle by 2010, according to Anne Lauvergeon, Chairman of the Executive Board, when announcing the financial results for 2005 that included a doubling of net income to more than € 1 billion. The company’s EPR has already been selected by three utilities: Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO) of Finland; Electricité de France (EDF), and Constellation Energy of the US.
AREVA and Constellation Energy create a new company to develop the EPR in the US
The new company UniStar Nuclear, created in 2005, has been set up for the purpose of launching the first fleet of EPR on the US market. UniStar will offer a complete package, covering the licensing, construction, and operation of reactors. Within this framework, Areva is to provide the nuclear island instrumentation and control systems, and the first nuclear fuel load, while Constellation Energy will also receive support from Bechtel, one of the leading American engineering groups. A “design certification” will be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in December 2007, and a “combined construction permit operation licence” around June 2008.
A fleet of at least four EPRs could be initially developed and installed under the aegis of UniStar Nuclear, providing competitive, non-polluting energy.
AREVA has designed an “integrated recycling” plant that could be built by 2020
This third generation reprocessing plant would use a patented process called COEX for simultaneous separation and management of uranium and plutonium. It would be combined with an integrated line for fabrication of mixed-oxide fuel in a single complex. AREVA’s existing “second generation” reprocessing and MOX fabrication facilities at La Hague and MELOX can operate to 2040-2050.
French MOX fuel fabrication technology transfer to US and Russia
In March 1999, the US DOE signed a contract with DCS (the consortium of Duke, COGEMA and Stone and Webster), to design, construct, and operate a MOX fuel fabrication facility based on AREVA’s French MELOX plant technology and process. DCS will also design the commercial MOX fuel for use in US commercial nuclear plants.
The facility, which will be built in Savannah River, South Carolina, and owned by the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, is part of a bilateral effort between the US and Russia to process supplies of surplus weapons-grade plutonium into more proliferation-resistant forms. Converting the plutonium into MOX fuel will enable it to be used in commercial reactor to generate electricity.
On March 30, 2005, the NRC gave approval to build the MOX fuel fabrication plant. In a positive move toward the future construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) DCS has begun staffing by transition of over 200 employees to the Savannah River site.
In response to the NRC’s authorization, delivered in March 2005, to construct the MOX Fuel Fabrication plant, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman released a statement saying a “key milestone” had been reached in efforts to dispose of surplus weapons-grade plutonium. “Issuing the permit for construction of a MOX facility in South Carolina is the crucial step in the MOX program. We look forward to proceeding with this non-proliferation program that will ultimately eliminate enough plutonium for thousands of nuclear weapons in US and Russia.”
The construction of the facility is in line with the implementation of the US-Russian Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement, which commits both countries to dispose of 34 metrics tons each of surplus weapons-grade plutonium. A twin sister plant is to be built in Russia.
MOX fuel assemblies to be burnt at Duke Power’s Catawba plant
Four mixed oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies fabricated from US surplus weapons-grade plutonium have been charged in Duke’s Catawba nuclear power plant in Clover, South Carolina. The MOX assemblies were created in order to help fullfill the terms of the US–Russian Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (see above).
The four MOX assemblies were fabricated in AREVA’s Cadarache plant and assembled in the MELOX Plant, from 140 kg of former US weapons-grade plutonium. They were carried from the French port of Cherbourg to Charleston, South Carolina by two chartered ships (the Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Teal), which are purposed, built, and dedicated for nuclear materials transportation. The ships meet high safety and security standards, in compliance with stringent international regulations. They are equipped with naval guns and were protected by specialized armed forces throughout their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Those same ships were used in October 2005 to deliver 140 kg plutonium of former weapons-grade plutonium to Cherbourg.
New appointments:
Spencer ABRAHAM has accepted the appointment as Chairman of the Board of AREVA Inc. As Non-Executive Chairman, Secretary Abraham will be supporting AREVA’s business expansion and will bring to the Group his excellent knowledge of the world energy market and international decision-makers. His appointment became effective on March 1, 2006.
Bernard ESTEVE has been appointed Executive President of AREVA North America. He will be responsible for determining and implementing the Group’s strategy in the United States and Canada.
AREVA’s annual results:
Sales revenues: 10,125 M€
Operating income: 551 M€
Consolidated income: 1,049 M€
Throughout 2005, the French government has conducted a national debate on long-term radioactive waste management policy that culminated in a legislation in 2006. Based on a Government White Paper, a broad dialogue was conducted, involving national legislators, regional and local government, and citizens. The consultation touched upon general options for high-level, long-lived radioactive waste management.
This legislation is the culmination of 15 years of research undertaken under the country’s first Waste Management Act passed in December 1991, which set three options for consideration : actinide partitioning and transmutation; deep geological repository; and monitored surface long-term storage following conditioning.
This legislation "Nuclear Materials and Waste Sustainable Management Programme Act" which was approved by the Parliament in June 2006 establishes deep geological disposal as the “reference solution” for high-level and long-lived radioactive waste and sets the goal of authorising construction of a repository by 2015. The law establishes spent fuel reprocessing and recycling of usable materials as France’s policy, so as to reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste to be disposed of underground. It foresees interim above-ground storage of waste that cannot be recycled.
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