Hopefully the next three winters are not too harsh!
Due to the health crisis and the delay in renewable energies, the manager of the high-voltage network RTE (Electricity transmission network) indeed estimates, in its "forecast assessment" of the French electricity system by 2030, that security of supply will be placed on “vigilance” for the period 2021-2024.
"The margins are low," warns RTE.
The situation of the nuclear fleet for the supply of electricity has deteriorated due to maintenance work that was postponed with the crisis.
Added to this is the delay of the Flamanville EPR.
In addition, several projects on new renewable means of production have also been delayed, such as offshore parks or solar panels.
The best hoped for in 2024-2026
For the next three winters, RTE suggests ways to “regain margins”: in particular to accelerate the development of renewable energies and “maintaining availability or converting the Cordemais plant to biomass” (Loire-Atlantique), which currently runs on coal.
While France must officially exit coal by 2022, the government has already explained that this EDF plant could in fact continue to operate a few hundred hours per year.
EDF is also carrying out a biomass conversion project.
RTE had already expressed this same vigilance for the winter of 2020-2021.
But the drop in electricity consumption with the crisis and good weather made it possible to pass this period without a hitch.
For the future, the situation should then improve in 2024-2026 with the expected start-up of the EPR and six offshore wind farms. The improvement is even more marked in 2026-2030.
