The executive is due to announce next week its arbitration on plant closures. Of the three options on the table, two are similar to an ecological retreat.
Liberation 20th Nov 2018 read more »
France’s decision to delay nuclear phaseout by a decade jeopardizes PV plans. The French government has devised three possible scenarios for the planned phasing out of part of its nuclear power generation assets. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the target to reduce the share of nuclear power from around 75% to 50% by 2025, which had been set by the previous government, will only be reached in 2035. The most pessimistic scenario envisages the construction of four new nuclear reactors by 2040. The worst fears surrounding France’s new energy strategy, the “Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie” (PPE) have materialized, with the current French government unveiling three possible scenarios for its further commitment to nuclear power. As expected, none of them includes the target set by the previous government of François Hollande, which had stated that the share of nuclear in the country’s energy mix will decline from around 71% currently to 50% by 2025. According to French press agency AFP, the first scenario, recommended by the Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, envisages the shutting down of just six nuclear power plants by 2028, while another six nuclear reactors will be closed by 2035. This means that the 50% target will be reached a decade later than initially planned, and that in theory, the share of nuclear energy may remain unchanged until 2028. And this is the most optimistic scenario for clean energy development.
PV Magazine 20th Nov 2018 read more »
France could shut down up to six nuclear reactors by 2028 among other options, French media reported, as part of its medium-term energy policy to be presented next week. “I can confirm that there are three scenarios on the table that we are looking at, we are making final adjustments and all will be presented next week,” French Environment Minister Francois de Rugy told France Inter radio, without specifying a date.
Reuters 21st Nov 2018 read more »