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Energy autonomy of Island in 2050 according to State and Region

This Monday, December 2, the Réunion Region and the State formalized the mid-term review of the Multi-Annual Energy Program (PPE) 2019-2028. This announcement took place yesterday at the Region in the presence of Huguette Bello, president of the community, Patrice Latron, prefect of , and Maurice Gironcel, president of SIDELEC. By 2050, Reunion aims to once again become an exemplary island in terms of energy transition. This approach takes place in a context.

Currently, Reunion Island still remains very dependent: 88.6% of energy consumption in transport and electricity production was provided by primary energies imported in 2023. The importation of the Western way of life is responsible for the overabundance of air conditioning and numerous wastes in consumption, such as lighting empty stadiums at night. This has led EDF, the electricity network manager, to launch several calls this year to reduce consumption, because production is struggling to keep up. Because of the drought, the dams cannot produce as much. It is necessary to compensate for the deficit in this area as consumption increases.

This is a worrying trend. Indeed, the population of Reunion Island continues to grow, as does the number of electric cars. In the absence of a fundamental change in mentalities in the short term, the demand for electricity will therefore continue to increase.

How can we make up for the delay caused by the previous majority in the Region?

The Multi-Annual Energy Program (PPE) is a measure specific to former French colonies that have become departments of the Republic. These territories have the common point of not being connected to the European electricity network located several thousand kilometers away. In our country, the objective is to achieve energy autonomy from the renewable energies available in abundance in Reunion. The deadline is now set at 2050 whereas until 2010, it was 2025. This 25-year delay is the consequence of 10 years of presidency of Didier Robert in the Réunion Region. The fossil fuel and all-automotive lobbies had found an ally to stop the energy autonomy plan for 2025 launched under the presidency of Paul Vergès in the Réunion region in 1998.

Scheduled to run over the period 2019-2028, the PPE is subject to a mid-term review.

In Reunion, this review mobilizes Energy Governance, a platform bringing together communities, industrialists, associations and citizens. For Huguette Bello, this approach embodies a “sustainable transformation” and she announced a regional consultation to involve all stakeholders.

Mid-term review of the PPE

A mid-term review of the PPE was carried out. Since 2024, Reunion has achieved a 100% renewable electricity mix by law because it has stopped importing fossil fuels for electricity production. One downside, however: this situation arises from the fact that according to the European Union, wood imported from other continents is a renewable energy like the sun or river water.

Scientists and NGOs question the sustainability of the use of biomass, particularly that from wood. When trees are burned, they quickly release the CO2 they took decades to capture, creating a problematic time lag in the fight against climate change. Even with reforestation, it takes several decades to compensate for this pollution of the atmosphere.

This sheds light on the main challenge to be met: how to stop the imports of primary energies which keep Reunion Island dependent on energy? This cannot be achieved before 2028 because we cannot imagine EDF and Albioma stopping their thermal power plants which mainly burn energy imported from South America and Europe. The low level of the sugar cane harvest this year, barely 1.2 million tonnes expected, reinforces this dependence because it reduces the production of bagasse supplied to the Albioma du Gol and -Rouge power stations.

Promote energy self-consumption

During the plenary session on November 7 in the Réunion Region, the revision of the PPE was presented. It firstly aims to develop renewable energies. Solar and wind production will be increased with innovative projects such as photovoltaic installations on roofs. This will include promoting self-consumption of energy through solar roofs for individuals and businesses.

The Charging Infrastructure Master Plan (SDIRVE) provides for 3,400 terminals for electric vehicles by 2028. It is managed by SIDELEC chaired by Maurice Gironcel.

A key point is the adaptation of the electricity network managed by the French company EDF. It is necessary to strengthen the infrastructure to meet increasing demand while integrating more decentralized production enabled by the development of solar and wind power.

Furthermore, the Region is working to reduce energy poverty by facilitating access to solar water heaters for low-income families. In addition, initiatives to improve thermal comfort in public buildings, such as schools, will be launched.

M.M.

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