France is told it faces power shortages even in a ‘normal winter’

Nuclear plant closures could impact on Britain’s plan to import electricity at peak periods

THE head of France’s electricity grid has warned that his country is at risk of electricity shortages this winter, as problems with its nuclear power stations mount.

Xavier Piechaczyk, president of the Reseau Transport d’electricite (RTE), said consumers are likely to be called on to use less electricity at certain times in the event of a cold or even “normal” winter as electricity supplies run short.

RTE is in a state of “particular vigilance”, he added, in a warning that also raises questions for Britain’s power supplies this winter. National Grid is hoping to be able to import power from the Continent at times of peak demand if gas shortages mean not enough electricity being generated domestically.

Almost half of France’s nuclear power stations, which are owned and run by EDF, are currently offline, either for maintenance or as a result of corrosion problems. The widespread shutdowns have added to the strain on the energy system caused by gas shortages.

France typically exports electricity to other countries, but is less able to do so given its nuclear problems – creating the risk that Britain will struggle to buy what it needs at peak times this winter.

National Grid has warned there could be blackouts in the UK if it cannot import electricity when needed.

RTE is publishing a forecast of electricity supplies up to four days in advance, known as Ecowatt, to try and help manage the system. If supplies are looking tight, it will launch a “red alert” calling on users to cut consumption.

Mr Piechaczyk said: “If it’s hot, you won’t hear about red Ecowatt. If it’s very cold, you’ll hear a lot of them, and if we’re in an average, normal winter, it will be a few units of red Ecowatt.”

As of yesterday morning, 32 of EDF’S 56 nuclear power reactors in France were online. EDF aims to have 11 reactors back up and running by next month and another four operational in January. However, there is a degree of uncertainty given the complications of nuclear technology.

Last week, French power prices for January surged above €1,000 (£880) per megawatt hour after EDF cut its electricity output for the fourth time this year. Prices have since fallen back, but remain far higher than in neighbouring countries.

Mr Piechaczyk said he was taking a “cautious” approach to nuclear plant availability in RTE’S forecasts, Bloomberg reported. Higher prices and mild weather are helping to cut consumption, but the “nuclear fleet risks being even less available than we had foreseen, so we’ll have to assess if that evens out,” he added. Several large industrial consumers in France have agreed to cut their usage in the event of a “red alert”.