French grid briefly curbed factory output to avert blackout

PARIS: France’s CRE energy regulator said that grid operator RTE had called on factories with high power usage to curb their output and electricity consumption in order to prevent blackouts.

The regulator said that on January 10 at about 2000GMT French and European power frequencies had fallen well below the normal level of 50 hertz, which can lead to major power cuts or blackouts.

It said RTE, which is a unit of French state-controlled utility EDF, had called on companies that are part of its demand-response programme to reduce power consumption by about 1,500MW — the equivalent of about one and a half nuclear plants’ output — to restore grid frequency.

“Thanks to their quick response, these companies have helped ensure security of power supply in France and more broadly in Europe,” the regulator said.

European power grids are all closely interlinked and major blackouts in one country could lead to blackouts in neighbouring countries. — Reuters