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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined France's long-term energy plan with new nuclear power and renewables leading the way.
He wants the country to adopt a two-pronged approach in the coming decades that will boost renewable energy but back it all up with next-generation nuclear power reactors, while phasing out older coal and gas-fired plants. He wants to build six new reactors based on the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design from Électricité de France SA (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris), evaluate the need for up to eight more, and forge ahead with the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
"Because we are moving towards electrification of all aspects of our lives--our ways of producing, moving and transporting energy--we will need to produce a lot more electricity," Macron stated in his energy plan speech. "And the key to producing this electricity in the most carbon-free, safest and most sovereign way is precisely to have a dual strategy of developing both renewable and nuclear energies. Some claim that it is possible to achieve this by developing only solar and wind power. Others claim that we must bet 100% on nuclear energy and that we could stop all solar and wind projects in France. The reality is what the (French energy agency) RTE study shows us and that is that we have no other choice but to bet on these two pillars at the same time."
On nuclear, Macron said: "The first goal is to extend all the nuclear reactors that can be extended without compromising safety. If the first extensions beyond 40 years have been carried out successfully since 2017, I ask EDF to study the conditions for extension beyond 50 years, in conjunction with the nuclear safety authority. The second decision is to launch today a program of new nuclear reactors. We have learned lessons from the construction of EPR in Finland, where it is now complete, and in France at Flamanville. EDF has undertaken with the nuclear sector the design of a new reactor for the French market, the EPR2, which has already mobilised more than one million hours of engineering and presents significant progress compared to the EPR of Flamanville. I would like six EPR2s to be built and for us to launch studies on the construction of 8 additional EPR2s.We are aiming for construction to begin by 2028, with the first reactor commissioned by 2035. This implementation deadline also justifies the need to extend our current reactors and develop renewable energies."
Industrial Info has been tracking the development of the EPR technology over the past decade as well as its very troubled rollout in Finland, at Olkiluoto, at Flamanville in France and the Hinkley Point C project in the U.K.. The projects have endured a combination of technical issues and delays, resulting in overruns of many years and costs that have skyrocketed by billions of euros. Industrial Info first reported on Macron's nuclear ambitions towards the end of last year. For additional information, see December 14, 2021, article--France May Relaunch Nuclear Power Program.
Last month, French state-owned energy major EDF revealed that it was facing a difficult year ahead after warning of an 8.4 billion-euro (US$9.6 billion) financial blow from government price caps, growing safety concerns at older nuclear reactors, and additional delays and rising costs at its newest nuclear power project. For additional information, see January 25, 2022, article--EDF Faces $9.6 Billion Hit, Nuclear Project Delays.
With regard to renewables, Macron wants a big push into offshore wind, an area where France lags a long way behind its European peers. He said: "Offshore wind power will be developed to aim for around 40 gigawatts (GW) in service by 2050, i.e. around 50 offshore wind farms. As of this year, we will be commissioning the first offshore wind farm off Saint-Nazaire." Onshore wind also will be expanded from 18.5 gigawatts at the end of 2021 to more than double that by 2050.
France also wants to become a leading player in the small modular reactor market, with Macron announcing a call for projects that the government will back to the tune of 1 billion euro (US$1.14 billion). Half of that will go toward projects being developed by EDF NUWARD, a 340-megawatt (MW) European Pressurised Water SMR plant composed of two reactors. It is being developed with state research body CEA, shipbuilder Naval Group and TechnicAtome, the state group building nuclear power plants for France's submarines and aircraft carriers. A tentative completion date is 2030.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
He wants the country to adopt a two-pronged approach in the coming decades that will boost renewable energy but back it all up with next-generation nuclear power reactors, while phasing out older coal and gas-fired plants. He wants to build six new reactors based on the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design from Électricité de France SA (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris), evaluate the need for up to eight more, and forge ahead with the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
"Because we are moving towards electrification of all aspects of our lives--our ways of producing, moving and transporting energy--we will need to produce a lot more electricity," Macron stated in his energy plan speech. "And the key to producing this electricity in the most carbon-free, safest and most sovereign way is precisely to have a dual strategy of developing both renewable and nuclear energies. Some claim that it is possible to achieve this by developing only solar and wind power. Others claim that we must bet 100% on nuclear energy and that we could stop all solar and wind projects in France. The reality is what the (French energy agency) RTE study shows us and that is that we have no other choice but to bet on these two pillars at the same time."
On nuclear, Macron said: "The first goal is to extend all the nuclear reactors that can be extended without compromising safety. If the first extensions beyond 40 years have been carried out successfully since 2017, I ask EDF to study the conditions for extension beyond 50 years, in conjunction with the nuclear safety authority. The second decision is to launch today a program of new nuclear reactors. We have learned lessons from the construction of EPR in Finland, where it is now complete, and in France at Flamanville. EDF has undertaken with the nuclear sector the design of a new reactor for the French market, the EPR2, which has already mobilised more than one million hours of engineering and presents significant progress compared to the EPR of Flamanville. I would like six EPR2s to be built and for us to launch studies on the construction of 8 additional EPR2s.We are aiming for construction to begin by 2028, with the first reactor commissioned by 2035. This implementation deadline also justifies the need to extend our current reactors and develop renewable energies."
Industrial Info has been tracking the development of the EPR technology over the past decade as well as its very troubled rollout in Finland, at Olkiluoto, at Flamanville in France and the Hinkley Point C project in the U.K.. The projects have endured a combination of technical issues and delays, resulting in overruns of many years and costs that have skyrocketed by billions of euros. Industrial Info first reported on Macron's nuclear ambitions towards the end of last year. For additional information, see December 14, 2021, article--France May Relaunch Nuclear Power Program.
Last month, French state-owned energy major EDF revealed that it was facing a difficult year ahead after warning of an 8.4 billion-euro (US$9.6 billion) financial blow from government price caps, growing safety concerns at older nuclear reactors, and additional delays and rising costs at its newest nuclear power project. For additional information, see January 25, 2022, article--EDF Faces $9.6 Billion Hit, Nuclear Project Delays.
With regard to renewables, Macron wants a big push into offshore wind, an area where France lags a long way behind its European peers. He said: "Offshore wind power will be developed to aim for around 40 gigawatts (GW) in service by 2050, i.e. around 50 offshore wind farms. As of this year, we will be commissioning the first offshore wind farm off Saint-Nazaire." Onshore wind also will be expanded from 18.5 gigawatts at the end of 2021 to more than double that by 2050.
France also wants to become a leading player in the small modular reactor market, with Macron announcing a call for projects that the government will back to the tune of 1 billion euro (US$1.14 billion). Half of that will go toward projects being developed by EDF NUWARD, a 340-megawatt (MW) European Pressurised Water SMR plant composed of two reactors. It is being developed with state research body CEA, shipbuilder Naval Group and TechnicAtome, the state group building nuclear power plants for France's submarines and aircraft carriers. A tentative completion date is 2030.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
