Summary

France’s Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor, its most powerful at 1,600 MW, was connected to the grid on December 21 after 17 years of construction plagued by delays and budget overruns.

The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), designed to boost nuclear energy post-Chernobyl, is 12 years behind schedule and cost €13.2 billion, quadruple initial estimates.

President Macron hailed the launch as a key step for low-carbon energy and energy security.

Nuclear power, which supplies 60% of France’s electricity, is central to Macron’s plan for a “nuclear renaissance.”

  • einkorn
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    1 day ago

    French nuclear energy is so heavily subsidised by the state that direct comparison seams hardly fair

          • Saleh
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            11 hours ago

            Germany has mostly old coal. Gas is relatively new. I totally agree that Germany needs to do more for its renewable production, like many other European countries need to do. However on a cost per energy level, renewables are beating all other production methods currently known.

      • einkorn
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        21 hours ago

        Even worse then. Costs per kWH Solar have been sinking faster than some Russian battleships.

          • einkorn
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            11 hours ago

            What’s your point? Solar getting cheaper and cheaper has nothing to do with Germany. Our booming solar industry got axed by conservatives years ago.

              • einkorn
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                9 hours ago

                So? Germany pays the same price for solar panels as everyone else. The cost of solar energy is sinking everywhere.