France has unveiled a new draft energy policy, which aims to diversify the energy mix and to accelerate the development of renewables.
The draft retains former propositions to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and to increase the share of renewables to 32% of final energy consumption by 2030. It includes the proposition to reduce the share of nuclear in the power mix from 75% to 50% by 2025 and aims to halve energy consumption by 2050 (compared to 2012 levels); electricity consumption targets are not detailed. France should enact a 15-year "Low Carbon Strategy", updated every five years, with the first one expected by 15 October 2015; a further planning programme grouping together existing planning programmes for electricity, heat and gas will be updated every 5 years. It will define maximum budgets to reach the targets.
As far as nuclear is concerned, the installed capacity will be capped at its current level of 63.2 GW, inducing the closure of the 1.8 GW Fessenheim nuclear plant to allow EDF to start its new 1,650 MW Flamanville EPR. Large power producers - accounting for at least 1/3 of French power generation - will have to present a power mix diversification strategy.
Financial incentives for renewables will be reviewed and reformed by ordinance; premium could be introduced for renewable producers selling directly on the wholesale market. A national fund for green growth and energy transition will be created (€1.5bn over 3 years); it will enable doubling the existing Heat fund (€400m for 2015-2017). The draft also considers facilitating procedures for renewable projects. Semi-public companies will be created to take over hydropower concessions.