The French government plans to introduce a bill allowing the 647 MW Émile Huchet coal-fired power plant, located in eastern France, to be converted to natural gas or biogas. The power plant, which is owned and operated by GazelEnergie, an affiliate of the Czech energy group EPH, was previously expected to be converted to biomass. The gas conversion would allow the power plant to produce electricity more efficiently during peak demand hours (300 to 700 hours per year), replacing the current coal-based system. Gas connections already exist close to the site, where TotalEnergies is operating a two-units 880 MW gas-fired plant commissioned in 2010.
Émile Huchet is one of only two remaining coal-fired power plants in France. The other, located in Cordemais (1,260 MW), was also slated to switch to biomass energy by 2027. However, EDF abandoned the project, citing technical and economic issues. France is expected to phase out coal-fired generation by 2027.
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