Is France really supplying the electricity?: New nuclear energy contract raises questions

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It’s midsummer. And with temperatures above 30 degrees in the pool, hardly anyone thinks about heating in the coming winter. But the war in Ukraine continues and the expansion of renewable energy sources is progressing slowly. It is therefore logical that electricity suppliers are already thinking about winter.

Various energy companies have now signed a contract with France. However, the question is whether the country can actually supply the agreed electricity, reports SRF.

Electricity for 350,000 households

Six Swiss electricity companies sign a 15-year contract with the French electricity supplier EDF. With the agreement, Axpo, Repower, Groupe E, Primeo Energie, the St. Gallisch-Appenzell and SN Energie power plants want to guarantee security of supply in the winter.

Under the contract, the six electricity suppliers will be able to source 1,500 gigawatt-hours of electricity from France annually – enough for 350,000 households.

For a long time, however, it was unclear whether the contract with France should be extended at all. Just a few years ago, a similar contract was not renewed. At the time, people were convinced that it was cheaper to drive if electricity was available on the free European market.

Electricity shortage and conflict in Ukraine

But the conflict in Ukraine changed everything. Suddenly electricity is a scarce commodity in Europe and speculating on cheaper prices turned into dangerous poker. Now security of supply is in the foreground – cheap prices are only a minor matter.

But the new agreement also has its pitfalls. Last year France produced less electricity than in decades. The reason for this is the often obsolete nuclear power plants. Many of them had to be taken off the grid unplanned and often for long periods of time.

Planning security with question marks

Noël Graber, Axpo media spokesman, gives the all-clear. “Regardless of the availability of individual power plants”, the EDF has always honored the contracts with Switzerland in recent years. According to Graber, the contract provides certainty and predictability for the energy companies.

However, should the series of failures in French nuclear power stations continue and France itself one day produce too little electricity, things could become tight for Swiss customers. So this contract also does not offer absolute security of supply. (sq)

Source:Blick