The EcoWatt device presents in real time and for the next 3 days, the voltage on the electricity network this winter. It is through this that the French will know whether or not they should reduce their consumption this winter. Be that as it may, EcoWatt will also do a lot of prevention to improve our daily use. MoneyVox explains.
How do you know when to reduce your consumption to avoid cuts this winter, in the event of a cold snap? To answer this question, the electricity distribution network RTE and the government agency Ademe have jointly developed an electricity weather forecast with the EcoWatt device up to 3 days before to people who have subscribed. This service invites the French to adapt their consumption accordingly and thus avoid a penalizing break for all.
EcoWatt is open to individuals and businesses and offers live, hour-by-hour detail of moments of tension, across the country as well as region by region. The program was first deployed in Brittany, PACA, Normandy and le-de-France before being tense the whole of France in 2020.
According to RTE, the vast majority risk situations are in the morning between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and in the evening between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., especially during vigilance period mainly in November and December.
EcoWatt red
Although no blackouts are feared this winter, during a press briefing organized on Wednesday September 14, RTE insisted on the role played by EcoWatt this winter in the face of the energy crisis and concerns about gas supply. , the energy situation in neighboring countries, the trend in demand, and the rate at which French nuclear reactors are restarting.
Currently the lights are green and in case of mild winter in particular, and leaves in the degraded scenario, the probability of having to use the Ecowatt red signal is very small, explains RTE. Generally speaking, if the meteorological conditions do not deviate too much from seasonal norms, the risk of imbalance remains low (about three transmissions of the red Ecowatt signal during the whole period). In the worst case, it would be necessary to reduce national consumption in proportions of between 1 5%. In the event of extreme weather conditions, this effort could go up to 15%.
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A signal Red EcoWatt, which has never been used, therefore means that the electrical system is very extensive and that cuts are inevitable in the absence of eco-gestures on the part of consumers. It is then that the EcoWatt alert must produce its effect. In rare cases where all electricity needs cannot be covered, local, controlled cuts lasting a maximum of 2 hours could be organised. The cowatt site will then provide all the information in real time to deal with the emergency situation.
Electricity consumption education
But beyond an effective alert system, Ecowatt also has an educational role. He must help the French better use of electricity when consumption is high. We can avoid a large part of the risks if we are very proactive about sobriety, explains Xavier Piechaczyk, president of RTE. For example, thanks to EcoWatt, during cold spells in winter it will be necessary consume at the best timefor example by reducing or postponing their consumption of heating, lighting or cooking, but also by recharging their electric car when the production of renewable electricity is high.
Another example valued by the RTE: if all the French turned off a single light bulb, 600 megawatts would be saved, equivalent to the electricity consumption of a city like Toulouse. An example that shows the impact of co-gestures as winter approaches.