EDF unveils plan to build 10 small reactors in Europe by 2035

France's state-owned EDF announced on Friday plans to build 10 small modular reactors across Europe by 2035, in a project involving its Italian subsidiary Edison that could be worth tens of billions of euros.reuters+1

EDF's senior vice president for international nuclear development, Vakisasai Ramany, outlined the ambition at an event in Milan hosted by Edison and attended by Italian companies set to join the nuclear supply chain.aol+1

A Simpler Path to Market

The project centers on technology developed by EDF's NUWARD subsidiary — a 400-megawatt pressurized water reactor based on established third-generation technology, capable of producing both electricity and heat. That dual capability makes it suited to decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors such as chemical complexes, port areas, and data centers.ilsole24ore+1

EDF had originally pursued a more ambitious reactor design but switched to a simpler, more proven approach after encountering design issues and concerns over delays and cost overruns. "It is not the best technology that hits the market, it is the technology that addresses as best as possible a number of expectations," Ramany said.aol

Edison CEO Nicola Monti said the targeted cost for electricity from the NUWARD SMRs is about €100 per megawatt hour. "We are talking about dispatchable energy, which should not be compared with the cost of renewable energy, but rather with gas generation," Monti said.aol

Italy First, Then Wider Rollout

Edison will be involved in building one of the first reactors in Italy, with a site in central-northern Italy near industrial hubs under consideration. Italy's government is expected to give final approval next week to legislation on nuclear power generation, reopening the door to nuclear energy nearly 40 years after a referendum banned it.ilsole24ore+1

EDF is also in talks with Poland, Belgium, and Finland on hosting additional reactors from the 10-unit fleet. Ramany said constructing all 10 would help spread costs and improve efficiency.aol+1

Building a European Supply Chain

The project is structured as an equal partnership between France and Italy, with plans to extend to other European countries. In June 2026, at the Franco-Italian Economic Forum, EDF, NUWARD, Edison, and major Italian firms including Saipem, Webuild, and others signed a declaration of interest in developing and deploying the NUWARD SMR across Europe. That commitment is now entering its operational phase, with industrial partners set to be involved from the design stage.ilsole24ore

EDF, Europe's largest nuclear power developer, is racing to catch up with the United States and others that already have SMR manufacturing plans in place for the end of the decade.aol