The French government has presented a plan to close France’s remaining four coal-fired power plants. EDF’s 600 MW Le Havre plant will be decommissioned by April 2021, followed by the 600 MW Saint Avold and the 600 MW Gardanne power plants, both operated by Gazel Energie (ex Uniper France) by 2022. The 1,200 MW Cordemais coal-fired power plant will be allowed to operate beyond 2022, though with limited operation until 2024 or 2026. Indeed, the French power transmission system operator RTE considers that the plant is a key element in ensuring the security of supply to western France, particularly during winter, until the commissioning of the Flamanville EPR project.
The share of coal in France’s power mix decreased from 8% in 1990 to 2% in 2018. The last 4 coal-fired power plants, which accounts for less than 2% of France’s electricity consumption, generate almost 30% of the electricity sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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