Emmanuel Macron wants to work twice as hard in terms of ecological transition. The Head of State said Thursday, September 22 that France must go “twice as fast” on the commissioning of renewable energy projects and must also accelerate on nuclear in the face of the country’s electricity needs which will increase “by 40% by 2050”. “We are going to massively increase our electricity needs”, by “40% by 2050”, and France will need to go “twice as fast on renewable energy projects” (ENR), said the president. during the inauguration of the first French wind farm at sea, off Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique).
He confirmed the objective of installing “fifty wind farms at sea”, as well as continuing wind power on land, in particular thanks to a reduction in the time for examining files which must remain “compatible” with the preservation of biodiversity and consideration of contentious appeal procedures.
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The procedures will also have to speed up on nuclear power, said the president, who announced last February the order for six new generation reactors, called EPRs. “I announced the first tranche in 2035 for nuclear. What I want is for us to go much faster,” he said. An audit published in February mentioned the 2037 horizon for the first commissioning.
“All nuclear does not work”
“We can go much faster if we simplify things, so we will be in the same logic on nuclear,” he said. “All ENR does not work, all nuclear does not work”, justified Emmanuel Macron. “And what we are experiencing today with the war, what some neighbors like the Germans are experiencing even more, is that the key in terms of energy is the diversification of the model. »
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He also promised better “value sharing” for renewable projects with communities and local residents, which will primarily concern offshore wind turbines, which are often disputed. “In nuclear power, there is a real return for the municipalities, which has helped with acceptability, we must do the same for renewable energy projects,” said Emmanuel Macron.
Among the avenues for solar development, the Head of State mentioned “the release of land” to install more panels on wasteland, citing the edges of highways and railways, but also some agricultural land with the agrovoltaism.
Solar panels on the side of the highway?
“In the coming months and years, we will install more solar panels by identifying all suitable spaces, in town, by the roadside”, declared Emmanuel Macron, also citing “large car parks” where the he installation of panels “makes it possible to generate additional income”.
Referring to the “decarbonization of highways”, he estimated that “the edges of the highway” and the “sides of the railway” could also accommodate solar panels. “It helps to protect the beauty of the landscapes, while developing renewables,” he noted.
“I also want us to be able to move forward on agrovoltaism” – the installation of solar panels on agricultural land – which represents a “very significant potential for additional income” for farmers, he continued.
Emmanuel Macron, however, insisted on the need to provide “safeguards” to prevent electricity production from “replacing” fields, meadows and herds, i.e. food production. .