France Links First New Nuclear Reactor to Grid Since 1999 (1)

Electricite de France SA connected a new nuclear reactor to the French power grid for the first time in a quarter century on Saturday, adding low-carbon electricity supply at a time when a sputtering economy has made demand sluggish.

The Flamanville-3 reactor — the first such addition since Civaux 2 was connected in 1999 — will join EDF’s fleet of 56 reactors in France, which generate more than two-thirds of the country’s electricity and are the backbone of western Europe’s power system.

When fully ramped up, the new unit will provide a stable source of supply, which can be particularly ...