'Historical moment' as EDF connects Flamanville-3 reactor to grid

French nuclear operator EDF connected its new 1.6-GW Flamanville-3 reactor to the electricity grid Dec. 21, capping years of delays and technical setbacks for France's first new reactor in a generation.

The Flamanville-3 European Pressurized Reactor in Normandy – now the country's most powerful – started providing electricity to homes at 11:48 am (1048 GMT).

"The coupling of the Flamanville EPR is a historical moment for the entire nuclear sector. I would like to salute all the teams who have met the challenges encountered during this project with the greatest tenacity and never compromising on safety," EDF CEO Luc Remont said in a statement. "Flamanville 3 joins the three EPRs already in operation in the world, in China and Finland."

Earlier this month the test was pushed back by a day from Dec. 20.

Following the first grid connection, the reactor will be operated at different capacity levels until summer 2025, which will conclude the testing phase, the company previously said. The first coupling will provide approximately 14TWh of electricity, it said Dec. 21.

French president Emmanuel Macron called the connection test a "great moment for the country" in a message on social media, adding that "re-industrializing to produce low-carbon energy is ecology French style."

The last time a reactor started up in France was the Civaux 2 a quarter-century ago, Remont said.

The reactor is expected to supply electricity to around two millions homes. The connection comes 12-years behind schedule, following a string of technical setbacks and huge cost overruns.

Nuclear power accounts for around three-fifths of French energy output and is a key pillar of France's energy security ambitions.

In the first half of 2024, nuclear production in France was 177.4 TWh, EDF said in July.