Return of Nuward: Discover the New Strategy Behind the French SMR

In a LinkedIn post shared at the beginning of the year, Nuward announced that the French and European SMR project is back on track, aiming to better meet European market demands with a reactor primarily focused on electricity generation and based on proven technologies.

At the start of summer 2024, the Nuward SMR team decided to revise the design of their reactor to better align with the needs of the European market. In a LinkedIn post dated 6 January, the company stated: “NUWARD relaunches the development of its SMR to support the energy transition in Europe and beyond.”

Studies conducted in recent months have allowed Nuward to refine its strategy. The SMR, designed to generate 400 MW of electricity, will also offer a cogeneration option of up to 100 MWth, tailored to industrial and urban heat requirements. This solution leverages proven and well-understood technologies, ensuring reliability and safety for future clients.

A Bold Ambition for the 2030s

Nuward is focusing on three major strengths: simplicity, modularity, and prefabrication. These principles aim to optimise costs and construction timelines, enhancing the project’s competitiveness against international rivals, particularly from the United States.

The goal is clear: to finalise the reactor’s conceptual design by mid-2026 and offer a market-ready product in the 2030s. This process will begin with a prototype, or First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK), to be built in France, solidifying Europe’s leadership in the SMR sector. To oversee this crucial phase, Julien Garrel assumed the role of President of Nuward on 1 January 2025, succeeding Renaud Crassous.

The strategic overhaul initiated in summer 2024 was based on two key factors: feedback from European prospects on timelines, budgets, and reliability expectations, and insights from a unique consultation involving six nuclear safety authorities and an international advisory committee of 11 specialised entities. ■