Looking across the pond at France, it’s hard not to be seduced by the French countryside. A country rich in culture, beauty and charm, France seems like a picture perfect place to visit. And yet, as you travel to France, you may notice something missing. Something that for years, has been a standard feature of French society. That something is nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy is one of the pillars of France’s energy independence. There’s a pharmacy, a bar, a hair salon, a general shop and a few apartments. But by far, most of the picturesque countryside are two huge cooling towers, half a mile from the city, an hour from the sea. If the new Civaux nuclear plant ever comes on line, France will soon have 56 operating nuclear plants producing 75% of her energy. However, there seems to be little interest in nuclear energy among the politicians or the citizens of France. This seems odd because nuclear energy is cheap, reliable, and clean and has the potential to create a lot of jobs for France.
So why isn’t France putting more of its effort into harnessing the power of nuclear energy? The answer has a lot to do with politics and economics. In France, the government tries to conserve fossil fuel power plants by subsidizing them. At the same time, the government encourages hydro-electric power production. Both are popular initiatives. The question is, why aren’t more France citizens buying solar panels and wind turbines for their homes and their electricity production?
In recent years, the government has been trying to curb energy consumption by subsidizing some electric companies and promoting gas-electricity interconnectivity. While the goals are understandable, the timing is bad. France is in the middle of trying to modernize its aging nuclear facilities, and it has recently had problems deciding where to put two new nuclear power stations. With the coming of the deadline for the last nuclear facility scheduled to come online in 2021, France is running out of time, if it wants to keep its nuclear energy industry running at full steam.
Many experts agree that France has the infrastructure to make the transition to cleaner energy and nuclear safety. However, the government has not said anything about updating its nuclear safety standards or creating a better power system for its electricity generation. Meanwhile, the nuclear safety standards that are in place are not as strong as they need to be, according to a recently released report from the International Facility for Research on Cancer. Part of the problem is the lack of coordination between different parts of the government. However, France has until 2021 to meet its national energy efficiency target, according to the French Ministry of Economy.
The nuclear safety commission in France was established in 2021 by a law that takes effect in 2021. The commission is responsible for maintaining the safety of nuclear plants in France while allowing renewable energy to run uninterruptedly. At the beginning of its six-year journey, the commission was able to successfully reduce the risks posed by the gradual retirement of nuclear power plants in France. However, it has been unable to achieve its targets for increasing the share of clean energy in the electricity generation mix and improving the reliability of its fossil fuel fired power plants.
In the years to come France will face great challenges in its effort to preserve fossil fuel fired electricity generation and progress towards renewable sources of energy. For now, the hopes rest with the nuclear energy sector, which has already demonstrated considerable improvement. In the interim, France has a world class clean coal technology and a robust wind energy programmer.
France has a unique position when it comes to globalization. It is an important bridge between Europe and the rest of the world as an economic powerhouse. The French energy industry has proved itself to be a world leader when it comes to innovation, while maintaining a competitive edge against its competitors. The country’s pioneering stance on the energy front will continue to be key. As world leaders look to France to lead the way in combating climate change, preserving fossil fuels and promoting clean energy alternatives the country will need to continue to build on these strengths.