winepressnews.com “In the worst case, which confronts a brutal hypothesis on European exchanges […], to which would be added a very cold winter, which we have not known for more than 10 years, we could go up to 30 days that are reported. It’s the worst case scenario, it’s really very unlikely, but it does exist.”
The French Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (“Electricity Transmission Network” (RTE)) has floated out the possibility, that, in a worst case scenario situation, the nation would have to manually cut the power to resident’s homes for a few hours during upcoming winter months.
Thomas Veyrenc, executive director of RTE, eplained to French outlet Good Morning Business yesterday, about the three main factors contributing to France’s energy crunch:
We are in an energy crisis with three main parameters. First of all, there is the gas crisis, a European crisis that predates the invasion of Ukraine: we were already at Christmas commenting on the evolution of gas price. This is important because many European countries produce electricity from gas and it is also important for all gas consumers.
There is a second tranche: a nuclear production crisis. Today, the fleet is operating at half power. It is normal for there to be reactors shut down, from summer to autumn , it’s unusual that there are so many. So the question is what nuclear production will be for the winter? And that is a particularly French crisis.
And then there is still the drought, with multiple repercussions, including on the production of hydraulic electricity, our second source of electricity production. We do not talk about it a lot, but when we combine these elements it is natural that we arrive in a situation where the risk is increased.
Europe Faces Worst Drought In 500 Years As Energy Markets Are Headed For ‘Disaster’
Currently RTE says they are monitoring the situations and will continue to do so going into fall and winter.
Électricité de France (Electricity of France) has already alluded to refiring a nuclear power plant to offset the energy shortages. The WinePress has reported that Germany has already done something similar: “Germany To Reconnect A Coal Powerplant Amidst Energy Crunch, Stymieing Climate Goals”
Thomas Veyrenc of EDF also has “three major parameters” they are examining and anticipating for.
The nuclear fleet, where will we be? We have done our analyses, we are cautious, but if we ever manage to put everything back into service, the situation will necessarily be easier.
[Referring to electricity exchanges in Europe:] The more the trading system and Community law work, the more solidarity we have with each other in gas and electricity, the better it will be.
Consumption, we were cautious, we considered that it was like today. Because of the sobriety plan or the price increase, that could bring it down…
France Electricity Networks
