nuclear-news

France turning towards renewable energy

France seen turning to renewables in policy shake-up By Muriel Boselli PARIS Sep 13, 2012   (Reuters) – France’s government begins a review of the world’s mostnuclear-dependent country’s energy policy on Friday, strongly in support of its small and ailing renewables sector.

Ministers, NGOs, unions, industries, parliamentarians and consumers
will converge for a two-day conference to agree on how to conduct a
six-month national debate that will seek to reshape the way energy is
produced, consumed and taxed in France.

Its new Socialist government is expected to announce immediate
measures to help the crisis-hit renewable energy sector – which
employs 100,000 people – as part of its battle to tackle soaring
unemployment.

“There are businesses which are struggling and we can today save
jobs,” said a senior official at the energy ministry, who declined to
be named. “Our concern is the notion of ecological patriotism, which
is to ensure that support to the sector actually translates into jobs
in France.”

France’s renewable energy lobby reckons the sector could generate
225,000 jobs by 2020 with investments totaling 80 billion euros,
provided production targets are met.

In 2011, renewable energy revenues in France reached 10 billion euros
($12.89 billion), puny when compared to the $257 billion
worldwide……
IMPORTANT MEASURES

Renewable energy makes up 13 percent of the energy mix, well below the
23-percent target set by Sarkozy for 2020. Nuclear power still
represents 78 percent of the electricity mix, wind power stands at 2
percent and solar power less than 0.5 percent.

While President Francois Hollande has pledged to cut France’s reliance
on nuclear power to 50 percent by 2025, Industry Minister Arnaud
Montebourg has described it as a “promising sector.” Low electricity
bills have become essential to France’s strategy to regain lost
competitiveness.

One key measure that could be announced this weekend is a second
tender to build offshore wind farms, a sector where France massively
lags neighbors such as Britain, an industry source told Reuters this
week…..http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/us-france-energy-debate-idUSBRE88C17M20120913

September 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, renewable