French-Italian collaboration on SMR deployment

Friday, 17 January 2025

In particular, the collaboration will focus on the analysis of thermo-hydraulic systems and passive safety systems, new technologies, integral system operation and the opportunity to provide electricity and heat in cogeneration mode for industrial needs. The agreement also provides for training activities and exchange of know-how between researchers and PhD students.

"Thanks to our collaboration with ENEA, one of Italy's leading players in the field of new nuclear research, we are taking a further concrete step towards the use of new nuclear technologies to support the Italian industrial system, by pooling technical and scientific expertise, experience in the management of nuclear plants, and a forward-looking vision," said Edison Executive Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and Innovation Lorenzo Mottura.

Alessandro Dodaro, director of the nuclear department at ENEA - the Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development - added: "The agreement with EDF and Edison will strengthen Italy's role in Europe in the development of innovative nuclear technologies, with the aim of supporting the Italian industry in penetrating the European SMR market and reinforcing ENEA's leadership in the field of innovative nuclear technologies, passive systems, and large-scale experimentation up to full-scale testing."

"This collaboration is a practical and effective way to overcome barriers to deploying small modular reactors in Europe," said EDF Group Chief Technical Officer and Head of EDF Research and Development Bernard Salha. "By leveraging our combined expertise and resources, we are committed to developing innovative solutions that will contribute to Europe's carbon neutrality goals. We look forward to working closely with ENEA and Edison to enable a decarbonised future for the industry."

In March 2023, EDF signed a Letter of Intent with Italy's Ansaldo Energia, Ansaldo Nucleare and Edison to assess potential industrial cooperation for the development of nuclear power in Europe, including in Italy, specifically in the field of SMRs. In particular, the companies plan to explore potential industrial cooperation, drawing on their respective skills.

In July last year, an MoU was signed between EDF, Edison, Federacciai, Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare aimed at promoting cooperation in the use of nuclear energy to boost the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the Italian steel industry. Through that MoU, the partners will consider co-investment opportunities in new nuclear energy and, in particular, in the construction of SMRs in Italy over the coming decade, making use of the SMR technology promoted by EDF, of Edison's expertise, and of the engineering and industrial capabilities of Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare.

Italy operated a total of four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power in a referendum that followed the 1986 Chernobyl accident. It closed its last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, in 1990.

In late March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the Italian government approved a moratorium of at least one year on construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which had been looking to restart its long-abandoned nuclear programme. In May 2023, the Italian Parliament approved a motion to urge the government to consider incorporating nuclear power into the country's energy mix. Italy's government included potential new nuclear capacity in its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, which was submitted to the European Commission on 1 July 2024.