nuclear-news

France’s nuclear power edge fades, while Germany goes ahead phasing nuclear out

Since the start of the year, France has embarked on a national debate
on energy expected to culminate in a law in October to outline the
country’s future energy mix. Environment Minister Delphine Batho has
said the outcome will reflect Hollande’s promises on nuclear
power. 
Forecasts that Germany’s power imports would rise and new power plants
would be built as a result didn’t materialize, according to
Hans-Joachim Ziesing, a member of the independent commission
monitoring the energy transformation in Germany…

Hollande Draws French Industry Ire as Nuclear Edge Fades Bloomberg
News, By Tara Patel   February 07, 2013 French industrial groups are
up in arms as their once-celebrated nuclear-energy edge evaporates.

After decades when their factories churned out everything from steel,
glass and chemicals with one of the cheapest power prices in Europe
thanks to the country’s 58 nuclear reactors, French companies’
competitive advantage is being whittled away as the U.S. embrace of
shale gas cuts energy prices there and as Germany gives businesses
fiscal breaks on electricity costs.

Electricite de France SA’s nuclear
reactors, which make France the most reliant on atomic power in the
world, will need billions of euros of upgrades just as more costly
renewable power is being deployed. Both threaten to push electricity
prices as President Francois Hollande struggles to make French
industry — with more jobs losses than any other European country in
the past decade — more competitive in the face of an economic slump
and a trade deficit that’s near its record high.

“French energy used to be competitive,” said Emmanuel Rodriguez, head
of energy for the French unit of ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest
steelmaker, which also has operations in Germany. “This model is
crumbling. Germany is now better than us whereas a decade ago they
were much more expensive.”

French power prices for big industrial users are projected to average
as much as 25 percent higher next year than in Germany, according to
Uniden, a lobby whose members consume 70 percent of electricity used
by industry in France…….
French Debate
Meanwhile in France, last year’s presidential campaign exposed a
schism between the main political parties on the future of nuclear
energy. Hollande pledged to lower dependence over the next decade
while boosting investment in renewable energies like wind and solar
power, which produce more expensive power and rely heavily on
subsidies.

Since the start of the year, France has embarked on a national debate
on energy expected to culminate in a law in October to outline the
country’s future energy mix. Environment Minister Delphine Batho has
said the outcome will reflect Hollande’s promises on nuclear
power…….
Forecasts that Germany’s power imports would rise and new power plants
would be built as a result didn’t materialize, according to
Hans-Joachim Ziesing, a member of the independent commission
monitoring the energy transformation in Germany……
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-02-06/hollande-draws-french-industry-ire-as-nuclear-energy-edge-fades

February 8, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France