We are the worldwide leader in the construction, equipments and services for nuclear power plants and in the whole nuclear fuel cycle. We are also a world leader in power grid equipments and systems.
Our mission: innovating and contributing to ever cleaner safer and more economical carbon free power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. Supporting the development of low-carbon economies, AREVA provides solutions based on nuclear energy, which is carbon free, competitive, safe and available.

Nuclear energy is a low carbon energy: It currently allows Europe to avoid as much carbon as what all cars are emitting. Unlike other potential solutions to address climate change, nuclear energy is also competitive, as it has been shown by almost all recent studies in different parts of the world. The cost of generated electricity is also extremely stable and predictable for the future. The reason is that uranium accounts for less than 5% of the overall generation costs, which means there are no consequences if the price of uranium doubles or triples. This basically means nuclear energy is what is needed to support the development of low carbon economies.

Nuclear energy is also available, and considered as a “domestic energy”. Uranium is accessible, as it is well distributed around the world and current major mines are located in many different countries. Adding the option related to spent fuel recycling, available resources will be extended to several centuries. Why would we get deprived of so much energy while we have the ability to recycle 96% of the spent fuel? AREVA has chosen to support this option, and has already treated more than 20 000 tons of spent fuel, which is the equivalent of twenty years of nuclear energy production from 100 reactors.

As one kilogram of uranium contains more energy than several tons of coal, solutions based on nuclear energy also offer large energy density; it means that it is possible to produce very big quantities of energy within a very small space and that it is easy to transport and stockpile several years of fuel. That is why nuclear energy is not only a sustainable answer to global warming, but also a key for energy security and independence, without any sacrifice in terms of competitiveness or safety. The safety and environmental track-record of operating nuclear power plants is already very high, and third generation reactors will keep on innovating and improving safety. For example, the EPR reactor can be deemed to be a totally isolated system. Whatever may happen inside will have no consequence on the outside and vice-versa.

Nuclear generation, which already accounts for 16% of the electricity in the world and one third in Europe, is part of the solution to address climate change. As it is already existing and available, it combines with a rigorous CO2 emission trading system engaging all major countries to face the challenges brought by global warming.

By Arnaud de Bourayne