France has intensified its renewable energy development in recent years in response to the energy crisis arising from the state of its nuclear fleet and the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Paul Neau, an energy transition trainer, emphasizes that the French government “needs wind and solar energy for the coming years” to cope with an electricity context characterized by an ageing nuclear fleet and delays in the construction of a new reactor.

“Our 56 nuclear reactors have an average age of around 35 years, with a new EPR under construction in Flamanville, Normandy, facing huge delays and cost overruns, and an ongoing EPR2 program that, at best, will generate its first MWh no earlier than 2035 or 2037, and will not produce massively before 2040 or 2045. The French government cannot do without wind and solar,” Neau explains in an interview with Energía Estratégica España.

Currently, France has 22.8 GW of wind energy, and the Multiannual Energy Programming (PPE) sets a goal of reaching between 24.1 to 34.7 GW by 2028.

However, the consultant points out that wind energy is a politically tense issue due to conflicting views between political parties, project development is cumbersome because the administration does not facilitate procedures, and legal challenges to authorized parks are very common.

“Development companies work in the medium term with high-quality projects, as this is the only solution to ensure projects are realized. They take eight to ten years after the first research,” Neau says.

On the other hand, the specialist highlights France’s push for the development of offshore wind technology, as there are three operational parks of 500 MW and two more, each with 500 MW, in advanced construction phases.

By 2050, the country aims to reach 45 GW of offshore wind energy and 18 GW by 2035. The sector is awaiting the launch of the competitive tender for 10 GW.

A week ago, the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) published the offshore wind map with priority areas for developing this type of technology.

Acceleration of Photovoltaic Development and the New Agri-Voltaic Framework

In the photovoltaic sector, the installed capacity reached 22.1 GW by the end of June this year. “Slow but steady, installed photovoltaic power is breaking record after record: 3,200 MW in 2023 and already 3,300 MW in the first nine months of 2024,” Neau points out and adds that self-consumption, both collective and individual, is developing consistently.

France has implemented a regulatory framework for agrivoltaics that promotes the development of projects compatible with agricultural activities. However, there are significant challenges in terms of social acceptance and land-use compatibility, issues that, according to Neau, “must be addressed comprehensively to avoid conflicts and ensure productive coexistence.”

A report published by the France Renouvelables Association points out that the French electrical system faces new challenges, partly related to the massive integration of renewable energies, such as adapting the electrical grid to manage production variability, improving the flexibility of the electrical system through storage solutions, and addressing public concerns about the visual and environmental impact of projects.

“The massive deployment of renewable energies is transforming the electrical system into a decentralized network of production assets, with the emergence of producer-consumers. The methods of managing the electrical system must evolve to integrate these new components,” the report notes.

It emphasizes: “Managing the production-consumption balance. In a context where consumption and production are increasingly variable (electrification of uses and integration of renewable energies), balancing real-time withdrawals and injections is more complex to achieve.”