French Set for Power Gap in Three Years on Nuclear Shutdowns

[phantom power]

France is heading for a shortage of generating capacity within three years because of the planned closing of outdated fossil-fuel plants and two nuclear reactors, grid operator Reseau de Transport d’Electricite said.

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France, which gets more than three-quarters of its power from nuclear, has imported increasing amounts of electricity since 2001 as demand outpaces supply at peak periods. Lawmakers say a German decision to shut atomic plants adds to the strain.

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“The French power system is singularly sensitive to changes in temperature and isn’t shielded from shortages in the case of an extreme weather event,” RTE said in the report.

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Four natural gas-fired plants are supposed to start up by 2017, while Electricite de France SA’s new EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville is due to begin commercial production in 2016.

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Reducing nuclear in the energy mix by 2030 will need a doubling of interconnection capacity in 20 years, costing about 350 million euros ($440 million) a year, it said. The borders with Spain, Italy and the U.K. are the focus, Maillard said.

The biggest challenge for the grid is to get people to accept high-voltage cables and pylons, he said. It has struggled to develop infrastructure needed to carry power from Electricite de France SA’s Flamanville EPR because of local opposition.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-05/french-power-gap-may-accelerate-on-nuclear-shutdowns-grid-says.html

[leveymg]

1. They're probably facing nuclear missile and bomber gaps, too. Quick, build more nukes!

E-mer-gen-cy, e-mer-gen-cy, every-one to get off street!