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French renewable resource sector states reactionary victory risks trouble for market

The French renewable energy sector is bracing for a sharp downturn in wind and solar projects if the farright wins a majority in upcoming elections, simply as brand-new legislation was expected to improve the market in nucleardominant France.

President Emmanuel Macron's shock choice on Sunday to call a snap election might hand political power to Marine Le Pen's. reactionary National Rally (REGISTERED NURSE) celebration, leaving it in charge of. domestic policies including energy.

The RN has vowed to end subsidies for renewables and wants. to halt growth of wind power, consisting of taking down currently. installed turbines. The celebration would instead invest in nuclear,. hydropower and hydrogen, according to its site.

It is clear that an RN-dominant parliament would assist in. the application of legislation that would a minimum of decrease. the advancement of renewable energy projects, said a. spokesperson at Velocita Energies, a system of China's Envision. Energy, which runs wind farms in France.

Shares in Engie, France's largest wind farm. operator, have dropped 6.1% given that Monday, wiping 2.1 billion off. its market price.

France lags its neighbours on renewable energy with about 45. gigawatts (GW) of installed wind and solar power capacity, and. has fallen behind targets set by the European Commission. Around. 65% of its power products came from nuclear in 2023.

But the federal government was due to introduce legislation on. Thursday outlining plans for a quick expansion of solar and wind. farms, with an official assessment anticipated to begin on June 27.

The strategies included targets to double the yearly pace of. solar setups to reach 75-100 GW in 2035, with 40-45 GW of. onshore wind setups and 18 GW of offshore wind capability. planned over the exact same duration.

The legislation, currently delayed for practically a year, will now. be shelved ahead of elections to kick off on June 30.

The RN would likely not dismantle existing wind turbines due. to the risk of legal action, but brand-new permitting might stop if. the RN holds power, said a supervisor at a European utility with. wind farms in the country, who decreased to be named.

Federal government support for photovoltaic panels was anticipated to cost. around 590 million euros in 2024. Onshore wind power however. would produce almost 3 billion euros for the state, according. to an evaluation by the French Energy Regulatory Commission.

A slower renewables rollout could likewise affect France's. ability to cover its energy demand over the next 15 years before. it develops new atomic power plants, included Rana Adib, executive. director at renewable resource lobby group REN21.

France must contribute to the European energy system by. establishing, together with nuclear power, renewable resource sources. which have actually shown their strengths and competitiveness and. will be essential, considering the expense and timetable. for deploying brand-new nuclear power, Engie stated in a statement.

(source: Reuters)