France set for electricity surplus as nuclear output rebounds
France’s power generation is set to exceed domestic demand in the coming years, supporting electricity exports to neighbouring countries such as Germany and helping to accelerate the energy transition, grid operator RTE said on Tuesday.
According to an analysis presented by RTE in Paris, the surplus capacity is expected to persist over the next two to three years.
RTE said France is producing surplus low-carbon electricity at some of the lowest prices in Europe, thanks to nuclear power plants returning to normal operation after maintenance and outages, as well as the continued expansion of renewable energy.
France can simultaneously attract new industries, cut carbon emissions and build data centres, RTE chief executive Xavier Piechaczyk told the newspaper Le Figaro.
“Some countries, such as Britain, Ireland or the Netherlands, are forced to make decisions due to insufficient electricity resources,” he said.
Unlike Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, France continues to rely on nuclear power to secure its energy supply and meet climate targets, with plans to build 14 or possibly more new nuclear reactors.
At the same time, the country is pressing ahead with the expansion of renewable energy, particularly offshore wind.
While there is an ongoing debate over whether the focus should be placed primarily on nuclear or renewable energy, RTE’s analysis concluded that France would be well advised to pursue the expansion of both in parallel.
