The French electricity network will have to undergo development and modernization work estimated at around 100 billion euros by 2040 (AFP/Charly TRIBALLEAU)
The French electricity network will have to undergo development and modernization work estimated at around 100 billion euros by 2040, to respond to its aging and the country’s energy transition, according to a plan put out for consultation on Thursday by RTE, the high voltage network manager.
This ten-year network development plan (SDDR) “aims to guarantee that the public electricity transmission network is adapted to the energy policy objectives set by the State”, explains RTE in its documents posted online on Thursday.
Its last edition, in 2019, forecast a budget of 33 billion euros by 2035.
Since then, the State has redefined its orientations, underlines the public group: relaunch of nuclear power, acceleration of renewables with emphasis on offshore wind and solar power, reindustrialization via the development of low-carbon industrial zones.
“In first analysis, the investment prospects by 2040 are of the order of 100 billion euros, including the renewal of infrastructures (…) which today constitutes RTE’s main investment item “, notes the plan.
Among the major works are the planning of an “unprecedented” connection program, and the strengthening before 2030 of the very high voltage network to electrify and accommodate new industries in industrial-port areas.
The plan also provides for the definition of an infrastructure renewal program, faced with climate change but also aging (more than 20% of airlines are 70 years old).
Finally, an issue concerns resistance to external physical and computer attacks, indicates RTE.
“It is no longer possible to postpone structural reinforcements on the network at the risk of not being able to connect the projects,” warns RTE.
The network manager also calls on stakeholders (industries, energy companies) to anticipate to better pool equipment, and emphasizes that it will be necessary “an industrial plan to strengthen the capacity of European industry in general, and French industry in particular, to produce the necessary materials.
The consultation, which is aimed in particular at manufacturers and territories, is open until April 30.
© 2024 AFP
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