Framatome plans French TRISO fuel pilot plant

Framatome said the launch of new industrialisation and development capabilities for tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel at its Romans-sur-Isère facility "complements Framatome's ongoing activities in the United States and marks a significant expansion of the company's resources in France, with the installation of a pilot line dedicated to manufacturing various types of TRISO fuel for advanced reactor projects, including high-temperature reactors (HTRs)."

The new pilot line will focus on the production of TRISO fuel enriched up to 20%. Leveraging Framatome's extensive expertise, this facility will enable the specification and qualification of TRISO fuel, as well as the associated manufacturing and quality control processes. The project is designed to pave the way for future industrialisation of TRISO fuel in France.

TRISO fuel comprises spherical kernels of enriched uranium oxycarbide (or uranium dioxide) surrounded by layers of carbon and silicon carbide, giving a containment for fission products which is stable up to very high temperatures. High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) TRISO fuels are being considered as the preferred fuel in several advanced reactor designs currently under development.

"We are proud to reinforce our expertise in France and support innovation in advanced nuclear fuels," said Lionel Gaiffe, Senior Executive Vice President of the Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. "With more than 65 years of experience, Framatome is well positioned to develop TRISO fuel programmes tailored to the needs of our customers and partners, including start-ups."

In late September, Framatome and Standard Nuclear - described as the USA's only independent developer of TRISO fuel - announced a joint venture to supply commercial quantities of TRISO particles and proprietary advanced reactor products. Once operational, the joint venture - named Standard Nuclear-Framatome (SNF) – aims to start by producing 2 tonnes of TRISO fuel annually, representing a significant scale-up from current capacity to supply the incoming fleet of advanced reactors in the USA and beyond. The partnership plans to commence manufacturing in 2027 pending regulatory approvals.

Within the scope of the French 2030 Innovative Nuclear Reactors project, Framatome and French start-up Blue Capsule Technology have signed a term sheet agreement to advance their cooperation, focusing on the qualification of TRISO fuel particles and the fabrication of specified fuel elements for its HTR reactors.

Blue Capsule said it aims to deploy low-enriched TRISO fuel at less than 5% in its reactors, given the wide use of low-enriched uranium (LEU) in the industry, and the export potential of reactors that use LEU. It is targeting energy-intensive industries, since its HTR will produce industrial-grade heat and steam, as well as electricity if needed.

"Blue Capsule's HTR project has taken an important step forward with Framatome," said Blue Capsule President Edouard Hourcade. "Our HTR project is based on the idea that France, and Europe, with its world-class nuclear industry, needs a robust supply chain to best achieve its goal."