Energy strategy: the government plans to slow down onshore wind and solar power and revive nuclear power

The government is publishing on Thursday, February 12, its highly anticipated multi-year energy program (PPE3) for 2035. This document confirms a stagnation in electricity consumption and leads the executive to slow the pace of development of onshore wind and solar power, while accentuating the revival of nuclear power.

This strategic text, at the center of sustained political debates for three years, presents a plan described as "ambitious" aimed at stimulating electricity consumption, relying on decarbonized electricity — particularly of nuclear origin — to replace fossil fuels that are expensive to import.

"The PPE3 sets a clear course: to increase decarbonized energy production, particularly electricity, and to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels," emphasizes the press kit accompanying the presentation of the roadmap.

Within this framework, the government has set a target for 2035 for decarbonized electricity production "closely linked to the growth of electrification in energy use." In other words, the aim is to accelerate the transition of sectors still dependent on fossil fuels to electricity, such as transportation with electric vehicles, buildings through heat pumps, and industry via electric furnaces.

This third edition of the Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE) thus marks a turning point in favor of nuclear power, breaking with the previous program (2019-2024), which planned the closure of 14 reactors. The government confirms "the launch of the construction of six EPR2 reactors" and reserves the right, in 2026, to decide on the construction of eight additional reactors.

The text also provides for an increase in offshore wind power, even if the objectives assigned to the sector are slightly postponed in time.

However, onshore wind and solar power are suffering from the context of stagnant electricity consumption in France. Their targets have been revised downwards compared to those presented in the version submitted for public consultation last March.

These new targets nevertheless remain consistent with one of the most favorable scenarios developed by RTE last December. The high-voltage grid operator has indeed lowered its electricity consumption forecasts for France up to 2030, citing the delay in the electrification of the economy.

Representatives of the sectors concerned, who met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Friday, hoped, however, that the government would not go below these projections.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.