France doesn't use bespoke designs for its nuclear generation units. Instead, it adopts a generational approach, where each unit within a generation is built nearly identically, allowing for minor site-specific modifications. This standardization enables rapid deployment and simplifies maintenance and upgrades. When issues arise, they can be addressed across the entire fleet of that generation. Over time, the fleet improves through iterative refinements, and each new generation incorporates lessons learned from the previous one. This disciplined engineering strategy has allowed France to operate its nuclear fleet with a strong safety record and without any major incidents.
I've never understood why the United States never adopted this model.
I've never understood why the United States never adopted this model.