Viewpoint: Joint EDF-CNNC book is new chapter in bilateral links
The Blue Book Nuclear Energy To Support Low Carbon is a unique collaborative work by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and France’s EDF, sharing their experience to highlight nuclear’s role in the energy transition, explains the editorial committee leader of the Blue Book at EDF, Antoine Herzog, in this Q&A.
Firstly, what is the book?
The Blue Book is a collaborative work between the Chinese nuclear company CNNC and the French company EDF. It is intended to be the first fruit of a new era of collaboration between these two players on a wide range of subjects. Indeed, it is the first time in the nuclear energy sector that a Chinese and a French energy group have jointly written a book of this kind.
How did it come about?
EDF and CNNC have a long-standing relationship. Today, as the Chinese industry achieves unprecedented growth and innovation, and as France experiences a new impetus of nuclear energy, this Blue Book is a pioneering initiative. Supported by the nuclear industries of the two countries, it aims to highlight the properties of nuclear technologies for a successful energy transition, while underlying the overriding imperative of safety.
To seal this new era of cooperation, the decision to write a Blue Book was taken in 2022 and confirmed on 6 April 2023 when the Presidents of China and France, Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron, met in China to sign a number of agreements.
What was the process of writing the book?
It took around 18 months of work in English and Chinese to achieve this result. With the help of dozens of experts on each side, many sections were written jointly, starting with the Executive Summary, and numerous paragraphs on current cooperation. This work then had to be enriched by the specific contributions of each of the players.
EDF and CNNC agreed that addressing nuclear from a climate change perspective, as well as in terms of security of supply and economics, was key. In terms of sharing experiences, it was also enriching for each of the players to learn more about each other's approaches.
In a large number of chapters, a Chinese part and a French part follow one another, which meant that the substance of the contributions of each player was retained, while at the same time succeeding in creating a common thread. The work was then refined jointly to produce a coherent result. The two missions, one to France and the other to China, were major steps in bringing the work together.
What about the content itself?
After an overview of nuclear energy around the world, including in France and China, EDF and CNNC examined the three major contributions of nuclear power: to the climate, to the economy and to security of supply. The aim was then to focus on the comparative nuclear dynamic between the two countries, with the main themes including safety, public acceptance, the industrial supply chain, construction methods, fuel resources, decommissioning and waste, and the adaptation of plants to climate change. Last but not least, the Blue Book places great emphasis on innovation and international cooperation.
How similar, or different, were the perspectives?
The Blue Book revealed very similar approaches between the two players, while at the same time highlighting the particularities of each player so that each can benefit from the experience of the other.
CNNC has a large number of power plants under construction, and this can benefit EDF in the areas of construction methods, factory production and site optimisation. Many of EDF’s reactors are located on riversides, and the operation of its fleet is flexible, since it has long been able to adapt to variations in electricity demand. With more than 2000 reactor-years of its fleet operating successfully, EDF has a wealth of experience to draw on. All these features mean that each player can benefit from the experience of the other, which is a source of mutual enrichment.
What are the hopes for the Blue Book's impact?
This Blue Book creates a new era for China-France nuclear energy cooperation and could serve as a reference for other countries that envisage developing nuclear energy and promoting low-carbon development.
Both China and France have ambitious nuclear plans. Above all, they both have a strong record of ensuring safety and reliability in nuclear operations. Having a low-carbon, large-scale dispatchable technology such as nuclear power is crucial, and in looking to the future in this way, drawing up a Blue Book made sense.
What are its main recommendations?
The main recommendations include to: build a robust nuclear safety regulatory system, enhance the competitiveness of nuclear energy, improve public communication, build strong and resilient supply chains, build a safe, cost-effective and sufficient system for securing uranium resources, implement a closed fuel cycle and minimise radioactive waste, develop the multipurpose use of nuclear energy, optimise the research and development, design and engineering construction, enhance the research and development of advanced fuels, and strengthen international cooperation under the framework of international organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Where can the Blue Book be read? And what's next?
The Blue Book can be downloaded free of charge from the IAEA website.
As to what’s next, the exchanges of ideas and practical experience have enabled China-France cooperation to reach a new stage. EDF and CNNC will undoubtedly work together in the fight against climate change, and by sharing experience and strengthening their cooperation, aim to continue to pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future.
