2024-01-18 19:17:46
It’s the return of traditions. France has regained its place as the leading electricity exporting country in Europe in 2023, far ahead of Sweden and Norway, according to data published Thursday January 18 by RTE, the transmission network manager. In total, its net power exports reached 50.4 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2023, compared to 43.4 TWh in 2021. It exported around 75 TWh and imported 25 TWh. However, we are far from records. In 2014, France had an electricity export balance of 65.1 TWh.
In 2022, France had lost its rank by even becoming, for the first time since 1980, a net importer of electricity, with a negative balance of 16.5 TWh. An event presented as “exceptional” by RTE and linked to the difficulties encountered at the time in the nuclear fleet. There had been a lot of maintenance and the discovery of stress corrosion problems on some reactors, which were eventually resolved.
Increase in electrical capacities
Everything is therefore back to normal, even if France is still far from having regained its nuclear production levels of ten to fifteen years ago, beyond 400 TWh. In 2023, the atom represented 320 TWh (compared to 279 TWh in 2022, the lowest level since 1988).
But to this must be added hydraulic production up 20% last year (38.7 TWh), as well as additional capacity in renewables, including full-year operation of the Saint-Nazaire offshore park. . Photovoltaic production is also on the rise, with more than 200,000 new installations (i.e. double the rate of 2022) and 3.135 GW of connected power over the year (i.e. 30% more), according to data from Enerplan, the sector union.
Germany once again becomes a net importer of electricity
Today, in any case, France is far ahead in terms of electricity exports. Sweden, second, posted an export level of 29 TWh and Norway, third, 17 TWh. These two countries benefit from large hydroelectric production. Spain is in fourth place and has a positive balance of 14 TWh. A record level obtained thanks to generous subsidies granted by the government to the operation of gas power plants, in order to lower electricity prices.
Germany, on the other hand, was a net importer of electricity (10 TWh) over the whole of 2024, to make up for its lack of wind and solar production on windless days, with clouds and at night. A first in 20 years. This is one of the consequences of its abandonment of nuclear power, with the closure of the last reactors in spring 2023. But despite this no to atoms, a third of current imports came from French nuclear power, the Agora Energiewende think tank.
Construction of new interconnections
The development of interconnections obviously favors cross-border trade. In total, RTE has 37 interconnections operated with six neighboring states, and has five projects in progress, including two lines under construction. Work began last summer to build a 700 MW line (Celtic) with Ireland, which is 570 km long, including 500 km under the sea. The project with Spain has also been launched. This is a 2,000 MW line, via the Bay of Biscay, of 400 km including 300 under the sea. But it arouses a lot of opposition from local residents, on the French side, for the 7 kilometers which extend will do on land.
In 2023, interconnections were strengthened with Italy, via Savoy and Piedmont, which allowed French electricians to break an export record to their transalpine neighbor.
The situation is expected to last
« With its privileged geographical position and its nuclear capacities, France should continue to remain an electricity exporter in the coming years. », Estimates Régis Boigegrain, director of interconnections and offshore networks at RTE.
The year has started rather well. On January 3, France recorded “a new maximum export balance of 20.3 GWh”, at 3:30 p.m., thus shattering the latest records in this area. In February 2019, it had exported 17.4 GWh and 18.7 GWh in December 2023.
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