Does France face energy shortages?

[Will]

I was under the impression that France had an excess of power generating capacity - hence the current reasonable electricity costs and the amount of energy exported. However, I have just been sent the following on my work e-mail address, which would suggest otherwise. (M&C is McKinnon & Clarke - like so many rubbish press releases no contact details or information about the company are given, other than a mobile number for the PR agent)

MEDIA RELEASE

22nd July 2010

 

FRANCE’S POWER SHORTAGES WILL IMPACT UK

 

Reports that France will see a power shortfall by as soon as 2013 will put greater pressure on the UK’s dwindling supply and force up prices - that’s according to the UK’s largest energy consultancy, M&C Energy Group.

 

France is facing a growing dependency on electricity imports as demand outpaces supply, particularly at peak times.

 

David Hunter, Energy Analyst from M&C Energy Group, believes that energy will become a scarce commodity resulting in increased prices and real risks of blackouts.

 

Mr Hunter explains: "At a time when the UK is facing its own looming energy gap, the news that our neighbours across the channel are likely to demand imported power from us is likely to both drive up peak prices and tighten our own supply margins further.  The UK market is linked to the continent's via interconnectors, and so that extra power will most likely go to the highest bidder.

 

“The irony is that French electricity giant EDF is one of the UK’s major energy providers - but is owned by the French government.  The French taxpayer also owns 35% of Gaz de France (GDF), which is looking to take over International Power, the operator of several UK power stations.  The UK could have little say in where energy produced here will go.  Only in May the OFT announced a stock-take of the UK's economic infrastructure - they will have their work cut out to keep up with the rate of change and resulting implications.

 

“Earlier this year the UK National Grid announced a series of Gas Balancing Alerts demonstrating the precarious position of the UK’s energy market.  Our power stations are old and overdue for replacement.

 

“The challenge for the new government is to reduce dependency on imports however, while there is much talk, there seems to be little progress.  In fact it has been announced that they are reconsulting on the UK’s energy policy with an announcement not due until the autumn - while our nuclear policy is not expected to be ratified until April 2011.

 

“With nuclear new build, reshaping the markets to deliver investment, a robust planning system and cleaning up fossil fuel power to be considered, the real issue is that £200 billion of investment needs to be found in the next decade to secure Britain’s energy future.  The state of the public finances means that the funding will have to come largely from the private sector and it is likely that we will be competing with France for this investment.” 

 

M&C Energy Group is calling on the government to accelerate preventative action to avoid an energy crisis and protect the UK’s national energy interest.

 

/ends

 

For further press information contact judith@olearypr.co.uk on 07825 304408

[velcorin]

I wonder if there is a angle aimed at the UK Govn? Particularly Vince Cable, known anti-nuke, and the review of the nuke build programme promoted by the previous Govn?

Re France. The problem, as briefly mentioned in the article, is peak consumption. You can't turn a nuke plant off and on, like you can with the Brit/German carbon fuel plants. Hence, the system on abonnements, trying to limit peak consumption, and importing power from the Uk and Germany.

Re the cost of lecky. EdF doesn't pay to build the nuke plants, or decommission them. It's a bl**dy fix. You should hear what the German Govn thinks. Most of it is highly undimplomatic to say the least[:D] Oh, and they don't have to worry about pension provisions, as the lucky taxpayer gets to pick them up[:D]