Universal Registration Document 2022

3.1.2.5 The ADAPT programme and the CEMA action plan ⁽¹⁾

Coordinated by the Nuclear & Thermal Fleet Division (DPNT), the ADAPT programme aims to secure the production of thermal and nuclear power generation facilities in anticipation of the consequences of climate disruption.

3-strand action plan

The approach is structured around 3 strands:

• understanding climate disruption and its effects at local level, taking into account its systemic nature in predictions of future climate conditions in various localities;
• evaluating the impacts of climate disruption on facilities and on power plants’ local ecosystems;
• taking action to mobilise internal and external stakeholders in view of the changing, systemic nature of climate disruption and its consequences, and taking action to adapt and contribute to the habitability of localities.

A systemic approach

ADAPT is developing a systemic approach to adaptation to climate disruption:

• taking into account stakeholders and involving them in the definition of resilience criteria and adaptation measures;
• incorporating contractual and non-contractual contacts.

Local habitability

The programme is structured around the habitability of localities. It does this by looking at biodiversity, carbon storage, and the adaptation of environments. It seeks to address the resulting effects on the social and societal acceptability of its activities. ADAPT is already in the process of identifying commitments and investments described as “immediately worthwhile”. These are aimed at addressing identified risks, ensuring subsequent decisions take adaptation properly into account, and beginning to prepare any further-reaching transformations that may be necessary.

Integration of ADAPT work in all processes

The approach aims to incorporate the issue of climate disruption in all processes, in particular in forthcoming ten-year inspections of the units in question. The idea is for ADAPT work to be incorporated into engineering processes in coherence with the Group’s commitments in terms of “energy sobriety”, innovative office buildings, etc.

Long-term integration

ADAPT seeks to ensure that attenuation and adaptation measures are long-term and not “maladaptations”⁽²⁾. Over and above engineering works, the analysis also considers the systemic and changing nature of the consequences of climate change.

Chooz 2050

The ADAPT programme has launched Chooz 2050 on the basis of a detailed study of a site chosen specifically for its lifespan (2050) and water-related issues. This study allows a life-size analysis of all aspects of the project, from industrial installations to binding and non-binding ecosystems. ADAPT examines issues relating to the inhabitability of the planet, water, temperature, energy, farming, transportation, and industry in a complex ecosystem. Chooz 2050 will publish a “climate monograph” to offer decision support in preparing regional adaptation strategies.

Indicator

The monograph on the Grand Est region of France was completed in late 2022, taking the number of completed local monographs to 8%, with a target of 100% being completed by 2025 ⁽³⁾.

3.1.2.6 Summer and winter operation ⁽⁴⁾

3.1.2.6.1 Summer operation

Lessons learned from the exceptional summers of 2003 and 2022:

• In 2003, some power plants had to reduce output so as not to further heat river water, leading to a production loss of 5.5TWh, equivalent to 1% of EDF’s production that year. The aim of the adaptation actions launched by EDF, has been to increase the safety margin and maintain production levels during such periods.
• The need to have legislation that is more geared to climate change has emerged, in particular in respect of discharge water temperature thresholds, either in terms of values (the mean temperature of watercourses has increased by approximately +2°C in France since 1970) or in terms of the application period. For most watercourses, dry spells are becoming longer, starting earlier and finishing later.

Measures taken:

• The “Grands Chauds” (“Heatwaves”) plan launched in 2008 resulted in EDF making improvements to cold water source cooling efficiency for some of its power plants, and hardening reactor building electronics so that they can withstand temperatures in excess of 50°C.
• All EDF group power plants currently under construction (including Flamanville 3 and Hinkley Point C) have been designed taking into account the most recent climate scenarios; in particular, this has involved revising the rise in sea levels upwards.
• For the first time in 2022, temporary changes to temperature limits on discharges were requested (and agreed to) by the ASN and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (ministère de la Transition écologique, MTE) for the Blayais, Bugey, Golfech, Saint Alban and Tricastin nuclear power plants. The first feedback from the enhanced environmental monitoring implemented by the operator to accompany these temporary changes did not reveal any significant changes in physical/chemical or microbiological parameters, and no exceptional fish mortality was observed.

3.1.2.6.2 Winter operation

The extreme weather in 2022 and tensions on the energy market entailed a range of actions being taken to preserve water and natural gas reserves in order to get through the winter, in particular derogations to legislation for some nuclear power plants, prudent management of reservoirs, deferred maintenance, and targeted use of local consultation to derestrict some hydro power plants and wind farms (5).

3.1.2.7 Adaptation of hydroelectric facilities

In order to reinforce resilience to extreme climate events and risks relating to the massive inflow of water into reservoirs, the EDF group is implementing the following actions:

Reassessment of extreme flooding

A regular reassessment of extreme flooding shall be carried out to ensure the capacity of flood evacuation infrastructure is maintained. Carried out by EDF- DTG ⁽⁶⁾, this reassessment takes place every 10 years for Class A dams and every 15 years for Class B dams. The studies provide input data for Dam Danger Studies (études de dangers barrage) required by legislation on the safety of hydro infrastructure, and are passed on to French regional environment, land use and housing authorities (DREAL). In 2022, 8 reassessments of extreme flood flows were performed.

“Piano Key Weir” Technology

Development and installation in 9 of EDF’s hydroelectric facilities of an innovative technology known as a Piano Key Weir (PKWeir), allowing a far greater quantity of water to flow through without increasing the dimensions of the dam.