France has ramped up its renewable energy development in recent years in response to the energy crisis stemming from the state of its nuclear fleet and the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Paul Neau, a trainer in energy transition, emphasizes that the French government “needs wind and solar energy in the coming years” to confront an electricity sector challenged by an aging nuclear fleet and delays in the construction of a new reactor.
“Our 56 nuclear reactors have an average age of about 35 years, with a new EPR under construction in Flamanville, Normandy, which faces significant delays and cost overruns, and an ongoing EPR2 program that, at best, will generate its first MWh no sooner than 2035 or 2037, and won’t produce on a large scale before 2040 or 2045. The French government cannot do without wind and solar,” Neau explains in an interview with Energía Estratégica España.
Currently, France has 22.8 GW of wind energy, and the Multiannual Energy Program (PPE) sets a goal of reaching 24.1 to 34.7 GW by 2028.
However, the consultant points out that wind energy is a politically contentious issue due to differing views among political parties, and project development is tedious because the administration does not facilitate procedures and legal challenges to authorized wind farms are very frequent.
“Development companies work in the medium term, with high-quality projects, as it’s the only solution to hope that projects will be completed. They take eight to ten years after the initial studies,” Neau explains.
On the other hand, the specialist notes that France is committed to developing offshore wind technology, as there are three operational parks with a total capacity of 500 MW, and two more, each 500 MW, in advanced stages of construction.
By 2050, the country aims to reach 45 GW of offshore wind energy and 18 GW by 2035. The sector is awaiting the launch of a competitive bid for 10 GW.
A week ago, the Direction générale de l’énergie et du climat (DGEC) published the offshore wind map, highlighting priority areas for the development of this technology.
Acceleration of Photovoltaic Development and the New Agrovoltaic Framework
In the photovoltaic sector, installed capacity reached 22.1 GW by the end of June this year. “Slow but steady, installed photovoltaic power is breaking record after record: 3,200 MW in 2023 and already 3,300 MW in the first nine months of 2024,” Neau points out, adding that both collective and individual self-consumption are developing consistently.
France has implemented a regulatory framework for agrovoltaics that promotes the development of projects compatible with agricultural activity. However, there are significant challenges regarding social acceptance and compatibility with land use, issues that, according to Neau, “must be addressed comprehensively to avoid conflicts and ensure productive coexistence.”
A report published by the association France Renouvelables highlights that the French electricity system faces new challenges, partly related to the massive integration of renewable energies, such as adapting the grid to manage production variability, improving system flexibility through storage solutions, and addressing public concerns about the visual and environmental impact of projects.
“The massive deployment of renewable energies is transforming the electricity system into a decentralized network of production assets with the emergence of prosumers. The methods of managing the electricity system must evolve to integrate these new components,” the report notes.
It adds: “Managing the production-consumption balance. In a context where consumption and production are increasingly variable (electrification of uses and integration of renewable energies), balancing real-time withdrawals and injections is becoming more complex to achieve.”
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