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Nuclear energy revival
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With 45 years of involvement in the nuclear industry, GDF SUEZ confirms its intention to take an active part in developing a new generation of nuclear power worldwide. It is convinced that nuclear power is now vital to tackling the new energy and environmental challenges.
Nuclear energy: a concentrated energy source
Nuclear power stems from uranium atom fission, which releases vast amounts of energy: a single kilogram of enriched uranium is the equivalent of 60 tons of oil and 90 tons of coal! Thus, a power plant supplying electricity to a city of three million people only consumes three kilograms of uranium a day.
Rising to the world’s new energy challenges
Energy is at a turning point in its history. GDF SUEZ now has to rise to new challenges: ever-growing global energy demand, dwindling fossil fuel reserves, increasing dependence on energy, the relentless fight against greenhouse gas emissions and many more.
Against this background, nuclear power stands out as a safe form of energy, emitting no CO2 with a very competitive and stable cost per kWh over the long term. Uranium, which is an accessible resource found in abundance across the globe, guarantees a safe supply. For these reasons, nuclear power is a major component of the GDF SUEZ energy mix.
GDF SUEZ and nuclear power: comprehensive know-how
GDF SUEZ is one of the rare European groups with expertise covering the entire nuclear energy chain: engineering and design, construction, operation and maintenance. Its expertise extends to fuel as well through its equity stakes in Canadian uranium mines and in Areva’s future enrichment plant in France (George Besse II in Tricastin).
Over the past 45 years, GDF SUEZ has proven its expertise in major nuclear projects.
The Group:
- owns and operates seven nuclear facilities in Belgium,
- has equity stakes in nuclear plants in France (totaling 1,100 MW – the equivalent of a nuclear unit) and in Germany (totaling 700 MW),
- is involved in major nuclear projects in Romania, the UK, Abu Dhabi, Brazil and other locations.
The Group has long expressed its intention of participating in the nuclear revival. In January 2009, this ambition became a reality in France:
| Nuclear specialists, come and join us! | |
| GDF SUEZ currently employs 4,000 people in its nuclear activities. Between now and 2015 nearly 1,000 additional people will have to be hired to cover the development of the Group’s projects. Recruiting and training programs have been set up to cope with this new challenge; they include the Nuclear Trainees Program, which combines theoretical learning and field experience under the supervision of a coach, allowing junior engineers to become nuclear generalists while creating a sold network within the Group. At the same time, | |
Major R&D investments
GDF SUEZ is concentrating its nuclear R&D efforts on:
- improving the performance and safety of reactors,
- waste management,
- improving technologies,
- 3rd and 4th generation reactors,
- the dismantling of facilities,
- nuclear fusion, etc.
To this effect, the Group is involved in numerous joint research programs, with the CEA, the SCK-CEN and the European Commission with the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP).
Nuclear – not a taboo subject
Nuclear power is an energy of the future but it is a form of energy that is often misunderstood. Some education is needed for everyone to understand it.
The Group also participates in think-tanks and informational campaigns on nuclear, including:
- the European Nuclear Energy Forum, as part of an initiative by the European Commission,
- the Belgian Nuclear Forum.
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