The transmission network has announced that electrical supply would be “more difficult to ensure” this winter due to the shutdown of several reactors of the French nuclear fleet. In case of cold weather, exceptional solutions are considered as interruption of the power supply to certain sites.
Electrical supply is “tricky” to make this winter than the previous, due to the shutdown of several nuclear reactors , and in case of significant cold waves, “exceptional measures” might be needed, warned Tuesday Network of transmission of electricity (TEN).
The manager of the French high-voltage lines, a 100% subsidiary of EDF, also said in a statement it planned if significant and lasting waves of cold “exceptional solutions’ including a last resort to power cuts, that is to say voluntary stops supply of some consumers.
These solutions, which could go before that by interrupting the consumption of 21 volunteers of electricity-intensive sites and brownouts, should allow “preserve the power of the French in the morning (8am to 1pm) and / or evening (6pm to 8pm) in working days “.
“The development of renewable energy, import capacity, deletion and energy savings, however, will allow to partially offset the overall decrease in production of nuclear sites” , also stressed RTE.
The subsidiary of EDF also mentions availability of nucléarie park “historically low” .
According to data provided by EDF, 13 of the 58 reactors it operates will be stopped in December and early January, for traditional maintenance operations but also for some of them because of safety reviews carried out at the request of the nuclear safety Authority (ASN).
Added to this are the closure of four plants in oil compared to last winter and stocks in hydroelectric dams to their lowest level in 10 years, said RTE.
Prices on European electricity markets reached the last weeks record levels due to extended shutdowns or planned reactors, including related controls required by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), to approach Winter.
