Status Project Units planned 1 x 600 MW | Reactor type SFR | |
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Operator French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission | ||
ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration) is a 600 MW sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor (Generation IV) project, proposed by the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA). It is proposed to be built on the Marcoule Nuclear Site in France. It is the successor of the three French fast reactors Rapsodie, Phénix and Superphénix. A final decision on construction is to be made in 2019.
The main goals of ASTRID are the multi-recycling of plutonium, aiming at preserving natural uranium resources, minor actinide transmutation, aiming at reducing nuclear waste, and an enhanced safety comparable to Generation III reactors, such as the EPR. It is envisaged as a 600 MW industrial prototype connected to the grid. A commercial series of 1500 MW SFR reactors is planned to be deployed around 2050.
As of 2012, the project involves 500 people, with almost half among industrial partners. Those include Électricité de France, Areva, Alstom Power Systems, Comex Nucléaire, Jacobs France, Toshiba and Bouygues Construction.
In 2014 Japan agreed to cooperate in developing the emergency reactor cooling system, and in a few other areas. As of 2016, France was seeking the full involvement of Japan in ASTRID development.
If a decision is made to proceed with construction, ASTRID is expected to start operating in the 2030s.