In the midst of soaring electricity and gas prices, caused by the post-pandemic economic recovery and aggravated by the war in Ukraine, energy promises to be one of the key themes of the inter-tours .
Emmanuel Macron is thus on the move this Thursday in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), to talk about ecology and in particular renewable energies.
The president-candidate is to visit a wind turbine production plant there.
To discover
Taxes 2022: all about your tax return
Read alsoPresidential: the program and statements of Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen scrutinized
A type of energy that the current tenant of the Élysée intends to develop if he is re-elected, unlike Marine Le Pen, who opposes wind power head-on.
“
One of the essential points of divergence is the part they wish to grant to renewables
”, notes Patrice Geoffron, director of the Center for Geopolitics of Energy and Raw Materials (CGEMP) at Paris-Dauphine University.
The two presidential finalists, on the other hand, have in common their desire to relaunch nuclear power.
Le Figaro
takes stock of their proposals.
Both supporters of a nuclear revival
Emmanuel Macron like Marine Le Pen are in favor of the construction of new nuclear power plants.
In Belfort, last February, the President of the Republic announced the launch of the construction of six EPR2 reactors, with an option for eight more, or 14 in total.
The construction of the first reactor must be launched in 2028, for a targeted commissioning "
by 2035
".
Read alsoEmmanuel Macron's plan to revive nuclear power
Marine Le Pen wants the construction of 20 new power plants: five pairs of EPRs from 2022 for commissioning in 2031, then five pairs of EPR2 for delivery in 2036. The two candidates also want to bet on SMRs, these small modular reactors.
“
These promises will not change anything immediately, it will not produce a megawatt hour in the next five years.
We are rather preparing for the 2030s and beyond
, ”underlines economics professor Patrice Geoffron.
“
These measures do not respond to short-term supply tensions.
»
Both also want to extend the life of the reactors currently in service.
During his speech in Belfort on February 10, Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to "
extend all the nuclear reactors that can be extended
", asking EDF "
to study the conditions for extending all the reactors beyond 50 years, in conjunction with the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)
".
Marine Le Pen evokes the extension of existing reactors up to 60 years, adding that she wants to reopen the Fessenheim plant.
Measures to make nuclear “
the pivot of our energy policy
“, Indicates the candidate of the National Rally (RN), and united in a plan called “Plan Marie Curie”.
Because it is through nuclear power that it wants to replace fossil fuels, that it “
wishes to abandon as much as possible
”.
Emmanuel Macron also calls for "
reducing our dependence on fossil fuels
".
Read alsoIs it still possible to reopen Fessenheim?
Frontal opposition on wind and solar power
While Marine Le Pen plans to pronounce “
a moratorium on wind and solar power
”, with the gradual dismantling of existing parks and the cessation of subsidies, Emmanuel Macron wishes, on the contrary, to accelerate the deployment of these types of renewable energies.
On solar, he plans to multiply by ten the production capacities of France by 2050.
Read alsoDismantling wind turbines as Le Pen wants would be “an aberration”, according to Macron
The former Minister of the Economy also aims to set up 50 wind farms at sea by 2050, while the first is to be commissioned in early May, off Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique).
“
We will never deploy wind turbines at sea without consultation
”, assured the president-candidate on France Bleu Normandie this Thursday, pledging to develop the recycling of wind turbines.
On onshore wind power, Emmanuel Macron declared in February in Belfort that it too should be developed, but in a “
reasonable
” way.
Investing in the hydrogen sector, a point of agreement between the two candidates
After having put on the table nearly 9 billion euros between 2020 and 2021 to develop a French hydrogen sector, Emmanuel Macron intends to continue his momentum if he is re-elected.
The president-candidate intends to continue to invest to make France the "
leader in green hydrogen
", promise of decarbonization of the industry, specifies his program.
Read alsoGreen hydrogen: the great challenge for French industry
Marine Le Pen also aspires to “
invest in the hydrogen sector
”.
However, as for nuclear power, "
there is a problem of consistency of times on hydrogen
", estimates Patrice Geoffron.
"
These plans will not change anything tomorrow or in 2030, but only beyond
," insists the economist.
Focus on hydropower at Le Pen
If Marine Le Pen condemns wind and solar power, other renewable energies are favored by the RN candidate.
This is particularly the case for hydraulics, of which it wishes to relaunch the sector.
"
All hydroelectric activities will be maintained in the public domain and controlled by EDF
", indicates its program.
The far-right candidate also intends to bet on geothermal energy.
Read alsoMarine Le Pen aims for energy independence
In Belfort, in February, Emmanuel Macron had also called not to neglect other types of renewable energies.
He had mentioned hydroelectric dams, biofuels, biomass and biogas.
"
We must in particular succeed in increasing the share of renewable gas, to aim for 10% in 2030
," he said.
European electricity market: exit for Le Pen, reform at Macron
If it is a technical subject, their position on the European electricity market "
is another important point of divergence between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen
", notes Patrice Geoffron, director of the CGEMP of the University Paris-Dauphine.
The first indeed calls for a reform, negotiated with the European partners, while the second simply wants to get out of it.
Two different approaches, for a common finding: that the functioning of this single market is at the origin of the current surge in electricity prices.
France has been maneuvering for several months to try to get the Twenty-Seven to accept a change in the rules for fixing prices on this market, but is struggling for the moment to convince.
If "
making corrections to this market can be discussed
", judge Patrice Geoffron, the energy specialist warns against the harmful consequences for France of a possible exit: "
more expensive electricity
", jeopardizing the capacity to guarantee a continuous supply to the French or even doubt about France's ability to "
complete its climate objectives
".
Read alsoElectricity market reform continues to divide European countries
Energy sovereignty in the foreground at Macron like Le Pen
Behind their energy measures, the two candidates both insist on the same objective: "
ensure our energy sovereignty
" at Macron, "
strengthen our energy independence
" at Le Pen.
“
Compared to 2017, this question of sovereignty is more present today.
And this is an observation that can be made everywhere in Europe
”, notes Patrice Geoffron.
The war in Ukraine and the threats to the supply of Russian hydrocarbons are of course not unrelated to this.
Read alsoEnergy independence: can we count on French oil and gas production?
On Emmanuel Macron's side, the emphasis on national energy sovereignty is accompanied by a desire to strengthen
Europe's "
strategic autonomy ".
“
Decarbonization and the deployment of clean energies
” must thus make it possible to reduce “
dependency (of the EU) on imported coal, gas and oil
”, indicates the program of the president-candidate, which targets Russian imports in particular.
No mention of European energy sovereignty is made in the program of its far-right rival.
