nuclear-news

France to consider all nuclear options, including exit from nuclear power

French 2050 committee will consider all nuclear options: BessonParis (Platts)- –Anna Crowley, -8 Nov 2011 A committee tasked with reviewing France’s energy supply options to 2050 will consider all options for nuclear energy, energy minister Eric Besson said Tuesday.

Besson told a Paris conference that scenarios under review included expanding the lifespans of existing reactors, “accelerating” the move towards a new generation of third- or fourth-generation nuclear reactors, a gradual reduction of nuclear’s share of the energy mix and full exit from nuclear generation. ….

On prices, Besson disputed projections by conference organizer UFE, the industry body for French electricity producers, that the end-user cost of electricity, including taxes and renewable subsidies, would rise 30% by 2030 under a “business-as-usual” scenario in which all of France’s 58 nuclear reactors remain operational and two new EPR reactors are brought online. …

Several declared and potential candidates for next year’s presidential elections have called for phasing out nuclear over more or less lengthy periods, while others have proposed reducing its share to 50% or less of total electricity supply.  http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8555393

November 10, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics