Conclusion

Generation III reactors take full advantage of the lessons learned from major nuclear accidents prior to the Fukushima accident, and of the substantial feedback from reactors already in operation. They are designed to meet ambitious safety targets compared to previous-generation reactors. These objectives are now the subject of a broad consensus at national and European level. However, approaches and safety requirements differ from one country to another, which is often difficult for the public to understand, and complicates the task of manufacturers and operators, who are now multinational. Several initiatives, supported in particular by France, aim to gradually harmonize these practices; the construction of Generation III reactors of the same type in several countries facilitates exchanges between safety organizations, since the object is common. The lessons learned from the Fukushima...