Stephanie Jones, President, Stephanie Jones Strategies

One of the reasons I got involved with the AREVA Community Advisory Council was AREVA’s genuine interest in reaching out to diverse communities and my desire to help bridge the gaps that keep communities from fully engaging in the clean energy conversation. So it was a pleasure to help AREVA kickoff 2012 with a fantastic networking event that brought together young professionals from AREVA and the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) to discuss clean energy, jobs, nuclear issues and other important topics.
 
“Don’t Get Stuck in the Dark: Plug Into a Better Energy Future” was the first of a series of events that AREVA will sponsor with the GWUL, and it was a tremendous success. Hosted by the Thursday Network, the GWUL’s young professionals organization, it was a wonderful opportunity for AREVA to share information about America’s energy options and to socialize and connect with a great group of influential, engaged young professionals.
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AREVA Inc. North America Launches App for Mobile Devices

AREVA Inc. announced today the launch of the AREVAinc App, a smartphone application for select mobile devices.

As the global leader in nuclear reactor technology and a growing provider of renewable energy, AREVA is in a unique position to increase clean energy understanding and awareness. The AREVAinc App helps accomplish these goals, especially in the North America region.

With the AREVAinc App, users have direct access to the latest AREVA North America content, including blog posts, images, videos, news releases, company information and links to online resources. Where available, the content is enabled for personal download and sharing via popular social media tools and email.

“As an innovative and technology-expert organization, it’s only natural that AREVA would be one of the first energy companies to provide this type and this level of public content and access,” said Laurence Pernot, VP Communications, AREVA Inc. “We are preparing more content for the AREVAinc App, and I encourage the public, our customers and policymakers to learn all about AREVA in North America with the tap of a finger.”

Launching the AREVAinc App is the latest phase of an expanded social community presence in North America that includes the Next Energy blog, Twitter accounts for nuclear and renewable energies, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and LinkedIn company profile.

The AREVAinc App is available on the AREVA North America website at: us.areva.com

The topic for Day 4 of National Nuclear Science Week is “Nuclear Safety,” and our contract announcement today is a good example of the nuclear industry actively responding to safety lessons learned from Fukushima.

Safety systems at Units 1 and 2 at CNE Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania will have an added defense-in-depth layer with the installation of AREVA’s Filter Containment Venting System (FCVS). This compact, modular and proven system can be used in all types of reactors: Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), Boiling Water Reactors (BWR), and CANDU plants.

Bigger picture—the FCVS is just one component of AREVA’s comprehensive Safety Alliance, an initiative providing expert safety analyses, upgrades and enhancements to help utilities meet post-Fukushima safety requirements. Last year’s spate of extreme U.S. weather events and U.S. nuclear energy facilities’ successful safety responses and return to reliable energy generation clearly showed the benefits of decades of ongoing safety upgrades and enhancements.

World-view—New Gen III+ nuclear reactor projects are designed from the foundations up to incorporate these decades of safety experience in multiple redundant passive and active safety systems, for example, in AREVA’s EPR^TM reactor. With more than 60 nuclear reactors under construction in 14 countries, the benefits of modern nuclear facilities generating reliable, safe clean energy will be a reality in these locations. Now, for the rest of the world …

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then an app is worth a million.

We launched the AREVAinc App today to do just that— spread the good word and provide instant smartphone access to everyone curious about the company, our North America activities, our clean energy portfolio, and our latest announcements.

You can download the AREVAinc App onto iPhones or BlackBerry devices now.

As stated in the press release,

With the AREVAinc App, users have direct access to the latest AREVA North America content, including blog posts, images, videos, news releases, company information and links to online resources. Where available, the content is enabled for personal download and sharing via popular social media tools and email.

And speaking of pictures, be sure to peruse the media library for incredible technology shots and even a floating robot to download for your screen image.

This new app joins an expanding social community presence for AREVA in North America, including the Next Energy blog, Twitter accounts for nuclear (#AREVAinc) and renewable (#AREVArenew) energies, Facebook page, YouTube channel, Google+ page, and LinkedIn company profile.

For all these links, check the right column of our North America website or (of course) connect to them with the new AREVAinc App.

BETHESDA, Md., January 26, 2012 – With the issuance today of the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission report on America’s Nuclear Future, AREVA commends the effort and hard work completed by the Commission, supports many key elements of the report and looks toward the future for more comprehensive solutions.

“Nuclear energy must be part of the clean energy mix in the United States,” states Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA, Inc., “and a sustainable approach to used fuel management is critical to supporting and developing long-term use of clean nuclear energy.”

AREVA strongly supports the formation of a new Federal entity, or FedCorp, chartered with broad responsibility for managing used nuclear fuel. This is an important first step toward restoring the public trust necessary to meet the scope of challenges identified by the Commission.

The Commission’s recommendations for the development of centralized interim storage facilities and revised NRC rulemaking, along with its general recognition of the fundamental obligation to avoid burdening a future generation are key elements to securing progress toward a comprehensive and sustainable solution.

AREVA remains strongly supportive of an integrated used fuel management strategy that includes centralized interim storage, recycling and ultimate disposal.

“Recycling used nuclear fuel is a proven solution that conserves natural resources and simplifies waste management but we must think in terms of real and sustainable solutions. The rest of the world is moving forward with forward-thinking solutions and the U.S. should join and lead this effort,” said David Jones, senior vice president of AREVA, Inc.

PICKERING, Ont., January 26, 2012 – AREVA was awarded a contract by the Canadian group SNC-Lavalin Nuclear to provide filtered containment venting systems for Units 1 and 2 at CNE Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

The contract is part of a wider cooperation agreement between AREVA and SNC-Lavalin for CANDU-specific reactor designs. The project is planned for completion over the next 27 months.

The FCVS technology is part of a global Safety Alliance framework through which AREVA provides a range of safety analysis, upgrades and enhancements to help utilities meet post-Fukushima Safety requirements.

“This agreement is a great example of our industry’s commitment to nuclear safety across the globe,” said Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA Inc. “The containment venting system responds to issues raised as a result of Fukushima and is just one way AREVA is working to meet and exceed our customers’ safety needs. It is also the first step toward more international cooperation between AREVA and SNC-Lavalin.”

The AREVA filtered containment venting system is a passive system with a compact design that prevents the buildup of excessive pressure, while safely releasing hydrogen and capturing fission products under accident conditions. Installed on more than 50 reactors worldwide, this is a proven technology and turnkey solution for utilities that can be easily retrofitted into existing plants in the U.S. and around the world.

AREVA’s FCVS can be used in all types of reactors: Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), Boiling Water Reactors (BWR), and CANDU plants.

For more information on the FCVS solution or other products and services available through the Safety Alliance framework, click here.

To download the FCVS detailed brochure, click here.

To learn more on how AREVA helps utilities achieve their fleet safety objectives, visit our Field Report portal (once on the page, click on “Play animation”).

“But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – a strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.”

- President Obama from the State of the Union Address

Welcome to National Nuclear Science Week … This is a week “designed to recognize the contributions of the nuclear science industry and those who work in it every day. Each day of the week of January 24-28, 2011, we will be promoting a different aspect of nuclear science.”

Follow this effort on Twitter, or Facebook or their blog …

We liked this article from Denise Carpenter, the President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Association, as a guest blogger on the Canadian Energy Association webiste. She makes the case that Canadians want energy security, energy jobs, and affordable safe and reliable energy power, and that nuclear energy needs to be a central part of any national solution.

Here in Canada, we have 17 operational CANDU reactors that supply 15% of all electricity in Canada and over 50% in Ontario. The Ontario Government’s Long-Term Energy Plan sees this role continuing, calling for the addition of two new units and for the mid-life refurbishment of ten existing reactors in the province. Nuclear units are also installed in New Brunswick (where a mid-life refurbishment is nearing completion) and in Quebec (where a refurbishment decision is due in the near future)… Refurbishing these nuclear units is one of the most effective ways to use public dollars to reduce carbon emissions, maintain generating capacity, and create jobs.

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Our friends at NEI put together a great animated overview of how securely and safely the United States nuclear plants withstood what was a dramatic year of unprecedented natural events. 2011 included a 5.8 earthquake striking ten miles from a nuclear energy facility, massive flooding surrounding another, and a direct hit from a category 3 hurricane on multiple facilities up the East Coast. Our industry is always improving and implementing new safety features, and this animated infographic illustrates the successful steps taken at each nuclear facility to ensure safety and security in every situation.