28 Jun (NucNet): German energy group E.ON and France’s Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, CEA) have signed an agreement that could lead to cooperation on the development of future reactors and options for fourth generation fuel cycles.
E.ON and CEA said the agreement provides the basis for “new research projects focused on the future use of nuclear energy, which are in both CEA’s and E.ON’s interest”.
Under the cooperation agreement, E.ON will gain access to CEA’s research results, while CEA will expand its European focus and include types of reactors in its research programme that are planned or operated outside France.
The agreement will also cover projects relating to second generation nuclear reactors – most of the world’s existing nuclear fleet – as well as third generation plant construction projects that are currently under way.
In addition to several other European cooperation projects, the two companies are already partners in the European Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) and in various areas under the Strategic Energy Technology Plan of the European Commission.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
France Plans Fast Breeder Programme ‘By 2012’ (News No. 59, 8 September 2009)
Russia And France Plan More Fast Reactor Collaboration (News in Brief No. 122, 16 September 2009)
