Universal Registration Document 2020

1. The Group, its strategy and activities

 In 2020, EDF readjusted the cost of the Grand Carénage refurbishment programme for 2014-2025 to € 49.4 billion in current euros(1). For the most part, this new estimation incorporates the first lessons learned for the works to be conducted, drawn from the investigations process during the fourth regular re-examination of 900MW reactors, which was concluded with the ASN decision rendered on
23 February 2021. It includes studies, alterations and additional equipment not originally planned for, aimed at improving safety levels. It also includes the review of the planned duration for scheduled maintenance shutdowns (ten-year inspections and partial inspections), drawing on the experience of previous years, as well as the impact of the health crisis as estimated in 2020, applied to 2020-2022(2).

Under this programme, the planned renovation or replacement of major components of power stations such as generators, transformers or steam generators continue.

At end 2020:

  • the alternator stator renovation programme was completed (49 renovated units);
  • the programme for preventive replacement of the poles in the main transformers is ongoing. 144 main transformer poles out of 174 had been replaced,
    i.e. approximately 83% of the programme;
  • the steam generators of 27 out of the 32 units of the 900MW series were replaced.

In addition, at 31 December 2020, 55 out of 56 Emergency Diesel Generators were put into operation. The 56th, Paluel 1, was commissioned in February 2021.

Industrial work will continue beyond 2025 on the occasion of the upcoming ten-year inspections. Capital expenditure will therefore remain high beyond 2025.

1.4.1.1.2.2 Environment, nuclear safety, radiation protection
Environmental protection

EDF’s environmental procedure was introduced in 2002 on a few sites, then extended to all nuclear generation units. It is based on an ISO 14001- certified SME environmental management system (see section 3.5.2.5.2 “Environmental management system”).

For a description of radioactive waste processing downstream of the fuel cycle as well as decommissioning, see sections 1.4.1.1.2.3 “The challenges specific to the nuclear activity” – “The nuclear fuel cycle and related issues” and “Decommissioning of nuclear power plants”.

A constant nuclear safety procedure

EDF, in its capacity as a nuclear operator, takes responsibility for nuclear safety and, in a rapidly-changing context (market competition, environmental issues, etc.), reaffirms as its absolute priority the protection of the human and environmental health, among other things, through the prevention of accidents and the limiting of their consequences as regards nuclear safety.

The implementation of the French nuclear power programme led EDF to establish a safety procedure that:

  • takes into account, from the design stage, the risks that might arise during the operation of the power plants, whether relating to the actual operation of the facilities or to internal or external attacks;
  • is based both on the application of strict rules of operation, and on the cautious and inquiring attitude of the technical teams by means of the establishment of a true safety culture;
  • is based on the cumulative experience of a standardised fleet;
  • incorporates a continuous improvement approach that is notably embodied by the ongoing efforts to decrease the number of automatic reactor trips;
  • benefits from integrated nuclear engineering and Research & Development within the Group in order to anticipate the occurence of failures, maintain the facilities in good working order, develop equipment on an ongoing basis, reassess safety margins and monitor technology advances, as well as the implementation of more effective new technologies and the management of sites being decommissioned;
  • relies strongly on the development of skills; with this objective in mind, each nuclear generation site is equipped with a simulator used for training to cope with any type of situation.

Regulatory notice

Nuclear transparency

The French Environment Code (Code de l’environnement) includes specific provisions on the right to information regarding the nuclear industry aimed at guaranteeing the public’s right to reliable, accessible information. In particular, the operator of a BNF is required to declare any accidents and incidents occurring as a result of the operation of the facility that could potentially be detrimental to the interests referred to in Article L. 593-1 of the French Environment Code, namely public health and safety and/or the protection of nature and the environment, and to do so speedily to the ASN and the competent administrative authority.

Other authorities also contribute to transparency for the nuclear industry. They include the Haut Comité pour la transparence et l’information sur la sécurité nucléaire (High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety, HCTISN) as well as local information committees formed for any site housing one or more BNFs.

The control system

Nuclear safety is subject to numerous controls, both internal and external.

  • For example, every four years, EDF performs overall safety assessments for each nuclear power plant, which take place over a three-week period and involve approximately 30 inspectors. In addition, the General Inspector for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, reporting directly to and appointed by EDF’s Chairman and CEO, holds discussions with employees in the nuclear industry, enabling an opinion to be issued each year on the overall safety of the nuclear fleet and improvement actions to be suggested to the Company’s management. Efforts by EDF, notably to improve human performance, have made it possible to decrease the annual average number of automatic reactor trips in recent years, and do so by a factor of four over a period of twenty years. In 2020, there were 14 for the entire fleet (a new historic record).
  • Nationally in France, safety is controlled by the ASN by means of:
  • scheduled or unannounced inspections carried out by the ASN (about 450 inspections in 2020 over all EDF nuclear facilities);
  • a periodic (ten-year) review process designed to improve the compliance of nuclear plants with applicable rules and update assessments of the risks facilities pose to the environment and public health, taking into account the state of the facilities, the experience gained during their operation, new developments in nuclear science, and rules applying to similar facilities. The targets are established by the ASN which monitors compliance; EDF proposes solutions to meet these targets and implements them after obtaining the approval of the ASN (see section 1.4.1.1.2.1 “EDF’s nuclear fleet in France”). The periodic review is an important step in continuing the operation of power plants (see section 1.4.1.1.2.3 “The challenges specific to nuclear activity”
    – “Preparing for the future of the nuclear fleet in France”).
  • At the international level, regular inspections are held making it possible to share the experience gained worldwide:
  • the OSART (Operational Safety Review Team) of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) performs reviews at the request of the French government with the objective of formulating recommendations and promoting best practices. In 2020, there was no OSART following the IAEA’s decision to postpone the one at Paluel until September 2021 due to the Covid-19 health crisis;
  • the international “peer review” inspections carried out by the WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators) are organised at the request of EDF to assess safety performance compared to best international working practices. In 2020, there were 2 Follow-Up(3) missions (Corporate DPN and Civaux) and 4 peer reviews (Saint-Laurent, Gravelines, Penly, Golfech).

(1) See the press release dated 29 October 2020 “EDF readjusts the costs of its Grand Carénage refurbishment programme”.

(2) This does not include any subsequent lockdown or other restrictive measures affecting activity.

(3) Follow-up missions related to the recommendations issued during peer-review audits (and detailed in an audit report).