FLAMANVILLE is a 4,414 MW nuclear power station in Lower Normandy, France. It is operated by Électricité de France (EDF). Based on reported annual generation of 13,819 GWh, it can supply roughly 3.9 million homes. It ranks #5 of 2,216 France power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1986, it is around 40 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 68.8% of France's electricity; the national grid averages 41 gCO₂/kWh (94.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1002728.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 4,414 MW for Flamanville nuclear power plant, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000500005; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 4,414 MW, FLAMANVILLE is well above the median nuclear plant in France (3,122 MW). Technically it is described as pressurized water reactor. Nuclear plants split uranium to raise steam with no direct CO₂; they run as steady baseload with very high capacity factors and the longest operating lifetimes of any thermal plant.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 36%, from 13,819 GWh of reported generation; the median for 19 nuclear plants in France that report generation is 70%
- Generation trend
- 16,054 GWh in 2015 and 13,819 GWh in 2017 (−14%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 19,276 GWh; 2017: 13,819 GWh
- Share of France nuclear capacity
- 5.9% of 74,927 MW across 23 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 12 of 21 dated nuclear plants in France are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Électricité de France (EDF).
Local climate & thermal context
This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 49.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 1% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 50/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #5 largest nuclear power plant of 23 in France by capacity.
France has 23 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 74,927 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Benoîtville · Solar · 2.5 MW · Lower Normandy
- La Hague power station · Oil · 21 MW · Lower Normandy
- Sortosville-en-Beaumont · Wind · 7.5 MW · Lower Normandy
- Saint-Jacques-de-Néhou · Wind · 10.2 MW · Lower Normandy
- Baudreville · Wind · 12 MW · Lower Normandy
- Clitourps · Wind · 3.3 MW · Lower Normandy
Location
Coordinates 49.5366, -1.8823 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is FLAMANVILLE?
FLAMANVILLE is a 4,414 MW nuclear power plant in Lower Normandy, France, commissioned in 1986.
How much electricity does FLAMANVILLE generate?
FLAMANVILLE generates about 13,819 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates FLAMANVILLE?
FLAMANVILLE is operated by Électricité de France (EDF).