Fessenheim is the symbol of French energy hypocrisy. The decision of the Council of State, Thursday, October 25, to cancel the decree of closure of the nuclear power plant Fessenheim reveals, according to the speaker of this forum, the hypocrisy of an energy system on which the political power has no hold.
Reporterre 30th Oct 2018 read more »
Energy storage on a commercial scale is the holy grail for supporters of renewables, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Unfortunately for his government, a dispute with the European Union is blocking investment for facilities which could store enough wind or solar power for hundreds of thousands of homes. At the heart of the deadlock is a series of hydroelectric dams operated by Electricite de France SA. The state-controlled utility’s rights to run several facilities expired a few years ago and the EU wants to boost competition by giving other companies a chance to operate them. EDF says it would be unfair to exclude it from new tenders, and Macron’s government is seeking a compromise. As the spat enters its fourth year, more than 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) of potential investment in pumped-hydro projects remain frozen. As long as the fate of their expired concessions is unclear, EDF and Engie SA, France’s dominant hydro producers, are reluctant to invest in new reservoirs and more powerful turbines. But the country will need additional storage capacity for its planned expansion in wind and solar power.
Bloomberg 30th Oct 2018 read more »
Government does not rule out new EPRs, but under conditional. The Government requests that an “industrial program” be developed to ensure that these future EPRs will have an acceptable cost. The government is leaving the door open for the construction of a series of new EPR-type nuclear reactors in France in the future, but it wants, before taking a decision, to be sure that the costs will be kept under control .
Sudouest 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Diversification creates a €45bn opportunity for renewables in meeting France’s 50% nuclear target and emissions reduction by 2035. Following the decision by France’s Government to diversify its energy mix away from nuclear, the energy market is set for a period of unprecedented change and transformation. Aurora Energy Research has analysed the impacts of these proposed changes. New research about the French power market and policy highlights significant potential for the accelerated growth of renewables in France as well as impacts on French generators and consumers through policy changes in the wider European energy markets.
Aurora Energy Research 31st Oct 2018 read more »