EDF / 2018 Reference document

1.

PRESENTATION OF EDF GROUP Description of the Group's activities

2018 results on nuclear safety (1) As in 2017, no major safety or radiation protection event was recorded at Framatome's Romans-sur-Isère site or the SOMANU site. In 2018, Framatome's Romans-sur-Isère site declared 16 significant safety events (ESS) classified at INES 0, 4 ESS at INES 1 and none at INES 2. The number of events declared is stable compared with 2017. No event declared in respect of the year 2018 had any impact on workers, the general public or the environment. Thermal generation in mainland France 1.4.1.4 In an environment of stagnating consumption in France in 2018 (-1%), thermal generation from fossil fuels has declined, playing its role as “connection group”. EDF’s electricity generation from its thermal power plants in mainland France represented approximately 2.5% of its total electricity generation in 2018. During the same period, this fleet had a total installed operating capacity of 5,525MW. Thermal generation assets have a number of advantages: they are very responsive and flexible (quick to start up and power can be modulated), and they have relatively low investment costs and short construction times.

The 2018 detailed results on nuclear safety are published in the annual report drawn up by the General Inspector for Nuclear Safety and in the TSN report of the Framatome site of Romans-sur-Isère and are available on the website www.framatome.com. Dedicated assets Dedicated assets have been established to cover long-term nuclear commitments (see section 6.1 EDF’s “Consolidated financial statements”, note 45.6 “Framatome and SOCODEI dedicated assets” to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018). Thermal generation assets are one of the key components of the energy mix to ensure the balance of generation and consumption in real time by accommodating fluctuations in electricity consumption and renewable energy generation (sun and wind power in particular). Together with some hydropower facilities (lakes, pumped storage plants), they are used to meet mid-merit and peak demand electricity requirements. The also help to regulate the system and thereby contribute to maintaining suitable voltage and frequency levels across the grid.

EDF’s thermal generation in mainland France 1.4.1.4.1 At 31 December 2018, the thermal generation facilities operated by EDF were of different types, both in terms of fuel and power:

Output (in TWh)

Number of units in operation at 31/12/2018

Unit capacity (in MW)

Total capacity (in MW)

Year commissioned

As at 31/12/2018

As at 31/12/2017

Fuel Coal

580

3

1,740 in 1983 and 1984

3.9

6.1 0.5

Fuel oil

-

-

-

-

-

in 1980 and 1981 in 1992 in 1996 in 1998 and 2007 in 2010 in 2008 and 2009 in 2011 in 2012 and 2013 in 2016

340 203 134 254 370 542 427 930 585

4 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 1

85 203 134 125–129 185 179-182

Fuel oil and dual-fuel combustion turbines (gas and fuel oil)

0.2

0.5

427 465 585

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

6.9

9.0

Issues relating to thermal generation 1.4.1.4.2 A renovated coal fleet to meet mid-merit demand and a cofiring study to reduce the share of coal After having closed, between 2013 and 2015, ten coal-fired units, EDF retains one coal power plant, consisting of three generation plants based on recent technology and located in Le Havre (1 unit) and Cordemais (2 units). A renovation programme for these coal-fired units was completed between 2014 and 2016 in order to improve their reliability and efficiency. They are equipped with flue gas desulphurisation and denitrification systems (90% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions and 80% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions) as well as dust collectors that trap virtually all dust. These treatments allow the units to meet environmental regulatory requirements in force since 2016. A coal and green biomass cofiring project was also initiated in 2016. A coal and biomass cofiring test carried out at Cordemais in February 2016 demonstrated the

technical capacity of a boiler to grind, pulverise and burn biomass (20%) with lowering its technical performance. Studies continued in 2017 and a plant residue densification pilot was set up in 2018. Tests performed in 2018 demonstrated the feasibility of co-firing 80% biomass in EDF coal boilers and the pilot's capacity to produce biomass pellets by the steam explosion process. This project, called “Ecocombust”, is in keeping with the spirit of the Climate Plan of July 2017, the national low carbon strategy (SNBC) and the proposed multi-year energy programme (PPE), which plan to stop coal power generation by 2022 and develop biomass resources. On 24 January 2019, EDF and the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition approved a working programme prior to a decision on the Ecocombust project. In 2019, this working programme should qualify the technical tests, environment impact studies and the project's business model. Subject to satisfactory conclusions at the technical, economic and environmental levels, and following continued discussions with the French government and local authorities, EDF will start the industrialisation phase for fuel production from 2022.

The objective of Framatome is to detect, report and treat in the best possible manner all deviations and anomalies occurring in connection with its activities. The purpose of this (1) indicator is to enhance the sharing of experience, broaden analysis and the importance given to weak signals. Events declared at level 0 on the INES scale are safety deviations, considered as “weak signals”. It is essential to take them into account as part of a continuous improvement process for a better management of risk prevention in the conduct of activities. In order to facilitate the reporting on “weak signals” and the sharing of experience, Framatome detects and records any deviation. The analysis of the latter, by the Filière Indépendante de Sûreté (independent safety reviewer), assesses the level of reporting to the safety authority.

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I Reference Document 2018