EPR

European Pressurised Reactor 

EPR™ is a trademark of the French company Areva NP SAS and originates from European Pressurised Reactor. The EPR is an updated design of pressurised water reactor (Sizewell B is currently the UK’s only operating pressurised water reactor). The EPR is classified as a generation III+ reactor, due to the enhancements included over earlier designs, and it has an electrical power output of about 1650 MWe.

Four EPR reactors are under construction at Olkiluoto in Finland, Flamanville in France and two at Taishan in China. Two EPR reactors are currently awaiting the go-ahead for construction at Hinkley Pt C in Somerset.

For more information on EPR see:
http://www.areva.com/EN/operations-5444/epr-reactor-fact-sheet.html
http://namrc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/EPR-GDA-overview.pdf

What the hec?! articles are not intended to be the definitive account on the topic or acronym in question. Readers’ comments and contributions are welcomed. Email: ndtnews@bindt.org