French energy giant EDF has completed the acquisition of a segment of GE Vernova’s steam nuclear business, which includes equipment for nuclear power plants.
The financial terms of the strategic acquisition, remain undisclosed. The move will boost EDF’s position in the nuclear industry and contribute to European energy security.
The deal includes the production of conventional island equipment for new nuclear facilities and ongoing maintenance and upgrades for existing plants outside the Americas.
The newly acquired business, now named Arabelle Solutions, will integrate 3,300 employees into the EDF Group.
Arabelle Solutions will provide equipment for upcoming nuclear power projects and offer maintenance and upgrade services for operational nuclear plants.
The company’s steam turbines will be particularly instrumental in the European pressurised reactors EPR and EPR2, and the small modular reactor (SMR) series.
The acquisition follows a series of agreements between EDF and GE, beginning with an exclusivity agreement in February 2022 and culminating in the final agreement in November of the same year.
EDF chairman and CEO Luc Rémont stated: “I am delighted that one of the flagships of the nuclear industry, Arabelle Solutions, is, as of now, a part of the EDF Group, enabling us to deploy the technologies and the maintenance services that are pivotal both for EDF and other nuclear operators in France and abroad.
“This acquisition supports the relaunch of nuclear reactor construction which Europe needs in order to decarbonise its economy and ensure its energy sovereignty, with a fully autonomous European industrial sector.
“Arabelle Solutions will strengthen our industrial expertise in the nuclear value chain alongside Framatome. Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome, has been appointed chairman of the board of Arabelle Solutions.”
Framatome is a nuclear reactor company owned by EDF and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was formed in 1958 to license Westinghouse’s pressurised water reactor designs for use in France.
Arabelle Solutions CEO Frédéric Wiscart stated: “We are very pleased to be joining the EDF Group and strengthening our longstanding partnership. As a world leader in nuclear turbine island technologies with extensive service capabilities, a third of the world’s nuclear power plants already rely on our steam turbine technology and services to generate carbon-free electricity.
“With decades of innovation in nuclear power behind us, Arabelle Solutions is in an excellent position to support the growing number of countries that view nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source.”
GE Vernova has retained its services-oriented Steam Power business, which includes servicing more than 100GW of nuclear turbine islands in the Americas.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy remains a part of GE Vernova, focusing on reactor islands, nuclear fuels and services, and advancing SMR technologies.
