The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and nuclear startup Calogena, a subsidiary of the Gorgé industrial group, have signed a letter of intent to conduct feasibility studies on the installation of a pilot small modular reactor (SMR) at the CEA’s Cadarache research centre in southern France.

A statement said the proposed Cal-30 module, a 30-MWt light-water reactor specifically designed to decarbonise district heating, will be integrated with Cadarache’s heating infrastructure.