During a highly anticipated speech this Thursday afternoon, the Head of State clarified his vision for France’s energy strategy.
The executive’s plans to ensure France’s energy future are finally known. This Thursday afternoon, in Belfort, the President of the Republic lifted the veil on his decisions in terms of energy policy, during a speech. Since his speech last November, during which he promised to “relaunch the construction of nuclear reactors“, without expanding on the subject, the Head of State was eagerly awaited by his opponents as well as by the players in the sector.
LiveLIVE – Nuclear: Macron wants six new EPR2 reactors and eight others under study for 2050
For the Head of State, the “building sitesaim to achieve carbon neutrality, reduce France’s energy dependence and ensure the “industrial development of our country“. The purpose of the executive’s plan is also to “give visibility“, with a “depth of fieldover the decades to come. Eight weeks before the first round of the presidential election, his announcements will be closely scrutinized.
Producing “much more” electricity for the future
In the decades to come, to replace fossil fuels, France will have to “be able to produce up to 60% more electricity than today“. And a strategy betting only on one type of energy is a “dead end“, according to Emmanuel Macron. The government therefore wants to betboth on renewable energies and nuclearin its energy strategy.
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Nuclear: an order for six new reactors, and a study for “eight” additional ones
Anxious to relaunch thegreat civil nuclear adventure in France“, Emmanuel Macron announced, as expected since last November, the launch of a “new nuclear reactor program“. “I want six EPR2s to be built“, and that studies be launched on the construction of “eight“other additional, said the tenant of the Elysée. That is a potential total of 14 reactors, “in stages“. EDF “will build and operate the new EPRs“.
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The “preparatory siteswill be launched in the coming weeks, aiming in particular to define the locations for the installation of the three desired pairs of reactors. A “broad public consultationon energy will take place in the second half of 2022, then, in 2023, parliamentary discussions will have to revise the multi-annual energy program (PPE), he also indicated. The construction of the first reactor will be launched in 2028, for a targeted commissioning “by 2035“commented the Head of State.
No more nuclear power plant closures in the future
Emmanuel Macron also announced two key decisions. First of all, “that no reactor capable of producing is closed in the future, given the increase in our electricity needs […]except for safety reasons“. A decision taken on the basis of work by RTE and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
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The lifetime of current nuclear reactors extended
Second decision, Emmanuel Macron wishes to extend the life of the reactors currently in service. “I ask EDF to study the conditions for extending all reactors beyond 50 years, in conjunction with the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)“, did he declare.
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Solar, wind, offshore wind: major efforts on renewables by 2050
France will have to make a big effort on solar energy, which is “cheaper and fits more easily into the landscape». Objective: multiply bynearly ten» its production capacities by 2050 and «exceed 100 gigawatts“.
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In addition to solar power, the Head of State wants to rely on offshore wind power. He “will be developed to aim for around 40Gw in service in 2050, i.e. around fifty offshore wind farms“, he specified. The first park should be open in the coming months: the course is therefore set, but the step is high.
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Onshore wind power will also have to be developed, but in a “reasonable“. “I know all the controversies there are, sometimes the rejections […], reluctance, and I understand them. No one wants to see our landscapes […] damaged by large white blades“Admitted the Head of State, adding however that he was”possible to reconcile» development of wind power and landscape protection. “The objective set for 2030 must be spread over time. The installed power, which is 18.5Gw at the end of 2021, will be doubled by 2050“, against 2030 so far, declared the President of the Republic. In addition, mayors will have the freedom to define where the installation of wind turbines will be authorized or not and they will be able to benefit from a “taxationattraction linked to these wind turbines.
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Continue investing in other types of renewable energies
Citing hydroelectric dams, biofuels, biomass and biogas, Emmanuel Macron assured that it would also be necessary to develop these other renewable energies. “In particular, we must succeed in increasing the share of renewable gas, to aim for 10% in 2030“, he said. “One billion euroswill be invested, via France 2030, in order to strengtheninnovationin renewable energies.
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Consuming less energy, within thirty years
Another axis put forward by Emmanuel Macron, to achieve its climate objectives, France must, “in thirty years, to be able to reduce by 40% [sa] energy consumption“. Not by showingenergy austerity‘, but in other ways, like ‘innovation“, the decarbonization of the industrial apparatus, the adaptation of the car fleet, the development of the hydrogen sector or the renovation of housing. In the coming months, aplanningwill be put in place, to set out clear objectives and means to support households and industries in these changes.
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Efforts on small innovative reactors
The State will also bet on the “SMR”: in parallel with the construction of three pairs of EPR2, a “call for projects will be supported to the tune of one billion euros by France 2030 to bring out small modular reactors […] but also innovative reactorscapable, in particular, of producing less waste. This second innovative reactor project is aimed at new players, including start-ups, alongside traditional players in the sector.
The State alongside EDF for the new nuclear
At government level, an inter-ministerial directorate for new nuclear energy will be created to oversee it. On the financial level, the State will commita massive plan of several tens of billions of euros for the entire sector and EDF, which is going through a difficult period. The State will assume its responsibilities to ensure EDF’s short-term and medium-term financing capacity“, assured Emmanuel Macron.
On the legal level, a new regulation of nuclear energy will be put in place with the European Commission, replacing the ARENH, in order to guarantee consumers stable prices, close to production costs.