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Maire said the MoU - signed last week during World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris - "aligns with Maire Group and NextChem's strategic objective to collaborate with nuclear technology providers developing small and advanced modular nuclear technologies (SMR/AMR) by delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. The collaboration supports NextChem's vision for its 'E-Factory for Low-Carbon Chemistry and Data Centres', promoting the integration of low-carbon energy sources into industrial processes and digital infrastructure to enable electrification and decarbonisation".
In line with this vision, NextChem recently launched NEXT-N, a joint venture with France-based innovative reactor developer Newcleo dedicated to developing new intellectual property for the conventional island and providing highly qualified technical services for next-generation nuclear power plants. The initiative leverages Maire's capabilities, including those of its sister company Tecnimont, known for its project delivery expertise and state-of-the-art modularisation approach, which optimises construction and planning, reducing both time and costs.
"We are proud to partner with leading players to support the production of nuclear electrons through SMRs to develop efficient energy for the downstream industrial and digital needs, in line with our vision of the E-Factory," said Nextchem Managing Director Fabio Fritelli. "Our goal is also to foster a highly qualified European supply chain which is essential to truly industrialise the new energy transition paradigm."
The Nuward project was launched in September 2019 by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, EDF, Naval Group and TechnicAtome. The Nuward - consisting of a 340 MWe SMR plant with two pressurised water reactors (PWRs) of 170 MWe each - has been jointly developed using France's experience in PWRs. The technology is intended to replace old high CO2-emitting coal, oil and gas plants around the world and support other applications such as hydrogen production, urban and district heating or desalination.
According to Nuward's previously announced small modular reactor (SMR) roadmap, the detailed design and formal application for a new nuclear facility was scheduled to begin in 2026, followed by first concrete in France in 2030 with the construction of that first unit anticipated to take about three years.
However, in July 2024, EDF said that in response to feedback from potential European customers it planned to optimise the Nuward design, focusing on existing and proven technologies, in order to guarantee that project deadlines and budgets are met.
In January this year. Nuward said: "The studies conducted in recent months have been decisive: Nuward has refined its SMR strategy to fully meet the expectations of the utilities and industry. The Nuward SMR will deliver 400 MW of power and offer an option for cogeneration, up to approximately 100 MWt. It will rely on well-known and perfectly mastered technological building blocks within the nuclear sector to offer a safe product adapted to market needs."
The company said the aim now is to finalise the conceptual design of the reactor by mid-2026 and "market a product for the 2030s", with a first-of-a-kind reactor built in France.
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