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 had 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 actors. of the sector.
LiveLIVE - Nuclear: Macron wants six new EPR2 reactors and eight others under study for 2050
For the Head of State, the " work
sites
" aim to achieve carbon neutrality, reduce France's energy dependence and ensure the "
industrial development of our country
".
The objective of the executive's plan is also to "
provide visibility
", with a "
depth of field
" over the decades to come.
Eight weeks before the first round of the presidential election, his announcements will be closely scrutinized.
Consuming less energy, within thirty years
This is the first axis put forward by Emmanuel Macron: to achieve its climate objectives, France must, "
in thirty years, be able to reduce by 40% [its] energy consumption
".
Not by demonstrating "
energy austerity
", but by other means, such as "
innovation
", the decarbonization of the industrial apparatus, the adaptation of the car fleet, the development of the hydrogen sector or the renovation of accommodations.
In the coming months, a "
planning
" will be put in place, to set out clear objectives and means to support households and industries in these changes.
Read alsoNuclear: the French industrial sector has come a long way
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 relying solely on one type of energy is a "
dead end
", according to Emmanuel Macron.
The government therefore wants to bet “
both on renewable and nuclear energies
” in its energy strategy.
Solar, wind, offshore wind: major efforts by 2050
France will have to make a big effort on solar energy, in order to multiply its production capacities by ten by 2050. Objective: “
exceed 100 gigawatts
”.
In addition to solar, the Head of State wants to rely on offshore wind power. It “
will be developed to aim for 40Gw in service in 2050, that is to say about 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.
Onshore wind power will also have to be developed, but in a “
reasonable
” way.
“
The objective set for 2030 must be spread over time.
The energy produced by onshore wind power, 18.5Gw at the end of 2021, will double but by 2050 and not 2030
”, declared the President of the Republic.
Mayors will have the freedom to decide where the installation of wind turbines will be permitted and will be able to benefit from tax advantages linked to these wind turbines.
No more nuclear power plant closures in the future
Emmanuel Macron announced two key decisions.
First, "
that no reactor in a state of production be closed in the future, given the increase in our electrical needs [...], except for safety reasons
".
A decision taken on the basis of work by RTE and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The lifetime of current nuclear reactors extended
Second decision, Emmanuel Macron wishes to extend the life of the reactors currently in service.
“
I am asking EDF to study the conditions for extending all the reactors beyond 50 years, in conjunction with the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)
”, he declared.
Nuclear: an order for six new reactors, and a study for “
eight
” additional ones
Anxious to relaunch the "
great civil nuclear adventure in France
", Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of a "
program of new nuclear reactors
".
“
I would like six EPR2s to be built
” by 2050, and that studies be launched on the construction of “
eight
” additional others, declared the tenant of the Élysée.
That is a potential total of 14 reactors.
The construction of the first reactor will be launched in 2028, for a targeted commissioning "
by 2035
", commented the Head of State.
A “
broad public consultation
” will take place in the second half of 2022, he also indicated.
The State alongside EDF for the new nuclear
At government level, an inter-ministerial directorate for new nuclear energy will be created to ensure its management.
On the financial level, the State will engage “
a massive plan of several tens of billions of euros the whole of the sector and EDF, which is going through a difficult period.
The State will take its responsibilities to finance EDF in the short and medium term
, ”assured Emmanuel Macron.
On the legal level, a new regulation of nuclear energy will be put in place with the European Commission, replacing ARENH in order to guarantee stable prices, close to production costs.