1/4 Macron’s plan to install 100 GW of solar power, 28 GW of new nuclear and 40 GW of wind, while simultaneously extending the lifespan of existing reactors should not be intended just as a plan to decarbonize France, whose electricity is aleeady amongst the greenest in EU.
2/4 If their reactors operated at full power they could pretty much decarbonize just by electrifying everything they can, without the need of installing more power. However, this nuclear&renewables push can be easily explained if we look at Germany, Italy and Belgium’s policies.
3/4 All these countries are phasing out nuclear and will be reliant on gas or import for baseload. Most of them already planned to increase electricity import. Macron’s plan aims at decarbonizing the whole Europe, by strengthening France’s role as electricity exporter.
4/4 Of course, France is not a charity, and they plan on having other countries repaying their investments. The bet is that the price of electricity will only but rise as we shift away from fossil fuels.
Time will show they’re betting right.
Time will show they’re betting right.
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