Top 10 Nuclear and SMR Projects in France in 2025: A Strategic Analysis

In 2025, France is executing a formidable dual-pronged nuclear strategy, solidifying its position as a global leader in atomic energy. The nation is concurrently extending the life of its vast existing reactor fleet to ensure short-term energy sovereignty while aggressively funding and developing a new generation of both large-scale reactors and innovative Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This approach is evident in the formal regulatory approval to extend the life of 20 reactors, adding a massive 26 GW of capacity, and the milestone of the Flamanville 3 EPR reaching full power. The dominant theme for 2025 is this blend of pragmatic fleet maintenance and ambitious future-proofing, underscored by the emergence of a vibrant startup ecosystem, with companies like newcleo, Stellaria, and Jimmy Energy formally beginning the regulatory review process for their advanced reactor designs.

1. Reactor Fleet Life Extension Program (1300 MW series)

Company: Électricité de France (EDF), Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN)
Installation Capacity: 26, 000 MW (26 GW)
Applications: Life extension and safety upgrades for 20 Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) to ensure baseload grid stability.
Source: French regulator approves extending lifespan of 20 nuclear reactors …

2. EPR 2 New Build Program

Company: Électricité de France (EDF)
Installation Capacity: 9, 900 MWe for the initial six reactors, with a long-term goal of 25 GW.
Applications: New large-scale nuclear power generation to meet future electricity demand and climate goals.
Source: [PDF] CAPTURING THE NUCLEAR REVIVAL – Business Sweden

3. Flamanville 3 Commissioning

Company: Électricité de France (EDF)
Installation Capacity: 1, 630 MWe (net)
Applications: Large-scale, carbon-free baseload electricity generation. It is the most powerful single reactor in France.
Source: Flamanville 3: Europe’s Hard-Won Nuclear Milestone

4. Nuward SMR Development Project

Company: EDF, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), Naval Group
Installation Capacity: 340 MWe (from two 170 MWe units)
Applications: Multipurpose SMR for electricity generation, industrial heat, and potential export markets.
Source: Harvesting Nuclear Energy for Defence through Small … – Finovista

5. “France 2030” SMR Investment Program

Company: French Government, Bpifrance
Installation Capacity: Not Applicable (€1 billion funding program)
Applications: Financial support to accelerate the development of innovative SMR and Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) designs.
Source: Nuclear Power – IEA

6. newcleo SMR Regulatory Submission

Company: newcleo
Installation Capacity: Developing units up to 200 MWe.
Applications: Generation IV Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) designed to generate power using spent nuclear fuel as a resource.
Source: French nuclear power enters a true “golden age” as a third company …

7. Stellaria SMR Regulatory Submission

Company: Stellaria
Installation Capacity: Not specified.
Applications: Development of a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), a Generation IV technology.
Source: French nuclear power enters a true “golden age” as a third company …

8. Jimmy Energy SMR Regulatory Submission

Company: Jimmy Energy
Installation Capacity: Not specified.
Applications: High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) designed specifically to provide process heat for industrial customers.
Source: French nuclear power enters a true “golden age” as a third company …

9. India-France SMR/AMR Partnership

Company: Governments of India and France, NPCIL, EDF
Installation Capacity: Not Applicable (Partnership)
Applications: Strategic collaboration to jointly develop SMRs and AMRs, leveraging French technology and Indian manufacturing scale.
Source: India and France sign SMR and AMR partnership letter of intent

10. EDF-Edison-ENEA SMR Collaboration

Company: EDF, Edison, ENEA
Installation Capacity: Not Applicable (Collaboration)
Applications: Partnership to explore the deployment of French SMR technology, likely the Nuward design, in Italy.
Source: French-Italian collaboration on SMR deployment

Table: Top 10 Nuclear and SMR Projects in France (2025)

From Baseload Power to Industrial Heat: Nuclear’s Expanding Role

The 2025 landscape demonstrates a significant diversification in nuclear applications, signaling broad industry adoption beyond traditional electricity generation. While massive projects like the fleet life extension program (26 GW) and Flamanville 3 (1, 630 MWe) reinforce nuclear’s critical role in providing stable, carbon-free baseload power, the real story is the emergence of specialized SMRs. For instance, Jimmy Energy is developing a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor specifically for industrial process heat, a hard-to-decarbonize sector. Simultaneously, newcleo is pioneering a Lead-cooled Fast Reactor that uses spent nuclear fuel, tackling the dual challenges of energy production and waste management. This move towards tailored applications—from grid-scale power to industrial parks—shows that the market is maturing, with nuclear technology being adapted to solve specific commercial problems, thereby widening its addressable market significantly.

SMR Market Growth Signals Expanding Nuclear Role

This forecast of a $10.9 billion SMR market quantifies the economic momentum behind the technology’s ‘expanding role’ beyond traditional power generation. It confirms the broad industry adoption of specialized reactors for applications like industrial heat.

(Source: Market.us)

France as the Nuclear Hub: Domestic Strength and Export Ambition

Geographically, France is unequivocally the epicenter of this nuclear revival, but its strategy is increasingly global. The core projects—the life extension, the commissioning of Flamanville 3, and the preparatory work for the new EPR 2 reactors at Penly—are all focused on strengthening domestic energy infrastructure. However, the international partnerships signed in 2025 reveal a clear ambition to export French technology and expertise. The collaboration with Italy’s Edison and ENEA aims to position the Nuward SMR as a leading choice for European nations re-evaluating nuclear power. Similarly, the partnership with India, a massive and growing energy market, aims to co-develop SMRs and AMRs, combining French reactor design with Indian manufacturing prowess. This strategy establishes France not just as a user of nuclear power, but as the central technology and policy hub for Europe and beyond.

Chart Details France’s Historic Nuclear Fleet Build-Out

This timeline illustrates the rapid, large-scale deployment of the French nuclear fleet, which forms the basis of its current ‘domestic strength.’ It provides crucial context for the life-extension programs central to France’s strategy as a ‘nuclear hub.’

(Source: CarbonCredits.com)

A Three-Tiered Approach: Proven, Scaling, and Next-Gen

The projects active in 2025 highlight a sophisticated, three-tiered approach to technology maturity. The first tier consists of proven, operational technology, exemplified by the life extension of the existing PWR fleet. This is a low-risk, high-reward strategy that leverages decades of operational experience. The second tier involves scaling next-generation-evolutionary designs. The EPR 2 program and the Nuward SMR fall into this category; they are advanced evolutions of established PWR technology, moving from design to pre-construction and pre-licensing. The third and most exciting tier is the emergence of truly novel technologies. The fact that three startups—newcleo (LFR), Stellaria (MSR), and Jimmy Energy (HTGR)—have begun formal scrutiny by the French nuclear safety authority (ASN) is a landmark event. It signals that these advanced reactor concepts, supported by the “France 2030” investment program, are transitioning from pure R&D to a credible commercialization path.

SMR Pipeline Reflects Three-Tiered Technology Strategy

This chart’s breakdown of SMRs by development status visually mirrors the ‘three-tiered approach’ of deploying proven, scaling, and next-generation technologies. It shows that while the pipeline is rich, most next-gen designs are in the early stages.

(Source: Enerdata)

Forward-Looking Insights: A Blueprint for a Diversified Nuclear Future

The developments in 2025 reveal that France is not just building more reactors; it is architecting a diversified and resilient nuclear ecosystem for the 21 st century. The national strategy is a hedge against technological and market uncertainty, balancing large, centralized power plants with flexible, smaller reactors. The success of the “France 2030” program in pushing startups into the formal regulatory pipeline indicates a shift from a market dominated solely by state-champion EDF to a more dynamic environment that fosters innovation. Looking forward, the key indicator to watch will be the speed and success of these startups in navigating the rigorous ASN licensing process. Their progress will serve as a global benchmark for the viability of the private sector-led nuclear renaissance. Furthermore, the international collaborations with India and Italy suggest that France’s nuclear future is as much about exports and global influence as it is about domestic energy security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is France’s main nuclear strategy in 2025?

In 2025, France is implementing a dual strategy. It is extending the life of its existing fleet of large reactors to secure current energy needs (adding 26 GW of capacity) while simultaneously funding and developing a new generation of both large-scale EPR 2 reactors and innovative Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to future-proof its energy supply.

Besides electricity, what other applications are the new French reactors designed for?

The new SMR projects are diversifying nuclear applications beyond just grid electricity. For example, Jimmy Energy is developing a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor specifically to provide process heat for industrial customers, while newcleo’s Lead-cooled Fast Reactor is designed to use spent nuclear fuel, addressing waste management.

Is EDF the only company developing new reactors in France?

No. While the state-owned company EDF leads the large-scale projects like the EPR 2 and the Nuward SMR, the “France 2030” investment program has fostered a startup ecosystem. Companies like newcleo, Stellaria, and Jimmy Energy have now formally begun the regulatory review process for their advanced Generation IV reactor designs.

Is France’s nuclear plan focused only on domestic energy?

No, the strategy has a strong international and export-oriented focus. France is establishing partnerships to promote its technology abroad, such as the collaboration with Italy’s Edison and ENEA to deploy SMRs (likely the Nuward design) and a strategic partnership with India to jointly develop SMRs and AMRs.

What are the three main technology tiers in France’s 2025 nuclear approach?

France is using a three-tiered approach. The first tier is proven technology, seen in the life extension of the existing PWR fleet. The second involves scaling next-generation designs like the EPR 2 and Nuward SMR. The third, most innovative tier, consists of next-generation concepts from startups like newcleo (LFR), Stellaria (MSR), and Jimmy Energy (HTGR) that are now entering the formal regulatory process.

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