The situation is “more pleasant” than previous winters, rejoiced the boss of EDF.
The Bugey power station, in 2011 (illustration) (AFP / JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT)
After two difficult years, French power plants have regained their power. EDF once again revised upwards on Wednesday December 11 its estimate of nuclear production for the year 2024 in France,
increasing it from a range of 340-360 TWh to 358-364 TWh,
not counting the Flamanville EPR, which must soon be connected to the network.
Waiting for Flamanville
“This revision is based on the very good production performance of the nuclear fleet thanks in particular to the optimization of unit outages, as well as the industrial control of controls and repair sites linked to stress corrosion,” explains the energy company in a press release. EDF had already increased its forecasts in September, from 315-345 TWh to 340-360 TWh.
Connection to the Flamanville EPR network is still planned by “the end of autumn 2024”, specified EDF.
It will allow French homes to benefit from the energy of the most powerful reactor (1,600 MW), the 57th in the fleet,
depending on the group.
Level “not far from optimal”
Its CEO, Luc Rémont, welcomed Tuesday, during a conference of the French Electricity Union, a situation “more pleasant this month of December than the months of December of the two previous years”.
Nuclear production has notably been affected in recent years by a corrosion phenomenon on certain reactors, which were shut down as a result.
In 2022, EDF's nuclear production fell to 279 TWh, its lowest level in 30 years,
which forced France to import electricity, a first in 42 years. In 2023, production increased by 15% compared to that of 2022, climbing to 320.4 TWh.
“With a level of production that has risen close to the optimum, even if we still have a little work to do, this actually allows us to ask the right questions about our energy transition and how to make it successful,” added Luc Rémont on Tuesday December 10.
IEA warning on energy prices
This good news at the national level contrasts with the continental alert launched by the head of the International Energy Agency, who indicated that industry in Europe, losing competitiveness, is penalized by energy prices much higher than elsewhere, warned the head of the International Energy Agency.
“The price of natural gas in Europe is five times higher than that of the United States and the price of electricity in Europe is three times higher than in China,”
declared the executive director of the AIE, Fatih Birol, at the symposium of the French Electricity Union (UFE).
“How can European manufacturers, especially those for whom the cost of energy represents a significant part of their overall cost, compete with other countries?” he continued.
“European industry, or more precisely manufacturing industry, is entering a decisive period which could have significant consequences for the European economy, Europe's weight in foreign affairs and Europe's security”, emphasized Dr. Birol. In terms of “clean technologies” (solar panels, wind power, batteries, electrolyzers), “Europe is clearly behind many other economic powers such as China, the United States and, in some cases, even India and other countries”, explained the head of the OECD Energy Agency, also mentioning the difficulty for the EU to have “a clear strategy”.
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