ENERGY. Energy sobriety and European cooperation are the two solutions favored by the government to overcome the energy crisis and avoid gas and electricity cuts this winter.
[Mis à jour le 6 septembre 2022 à 16h48] For France to spend the winter without being deprived of gas or electricity, “the solution is in our hands”. Emmanuel Macron spoke from the Elysée Palace on Monday, September 5, on the energy crisis and its possible consequences for the winter. In line with government announcements by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Minister for Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Head of State called for general mobilization and energy sobriety. The objective had already been set but it was confirmed by Emmanuel Macron: we must reduce energy consumption by 10%. Savings which are both required of companies and households and which must go through the reduction in the use of air conditioning for the last days of heat and especially heating for the coming months. These efforts, coupled with European cooperation to organize exchanges of French gas for German electricity, should make it possible to spend the winter season peacefully, according to the Head of State, who spoke after a meeting with the Chancellor German, Olaf Scholz.
The government maintains a serious tone but seems confident that its gas stocks are 93% full. With the objective of having complete stocks before the end of the summer, France could be able to barter this source of energy with its close neighbors. Above all, it could do without Russian gas in a “complete cut-off scenario” of deliveries by Moscow according to the President of the Republic. The Deputy Director General of Engie, Catherine MacGregor already indicated on September 2 on RTL that Russian gas only represented 4% of the French energy mix and was no longer essential or at least had become replaceable. The last lever to operate in the face of the energy crisis and the diversification of energy resources which must be done as much in terms of gas suppliers as in terms of energy sources. On this last point, the government wishes to be able to count on “more renewable, nuclear and sobriety”.
What solutions to avoid gas and electricity shortages?
The first solution on which the government relies to overcome the energy crisis is the collective conscience and the mobilization of the French to consume less gas or electricity. Calls to reduce the heating temperature multiplied until September 5 when Emmanuel Macron asked to take the 19°C level as a reference for heating rooms this winter. Energy sobriety will mainly involve companies, which are large consumers of electricity, insofar as this does not prevent their proper functioning. Reducing the use of heating and putting an end to night lighting are areas on which they are invited to reflect and act. Professionals must also submit their personalized sobriety plan to the government in mid-September.
Energy sobriety also includes everyday eco-gestures for individuals to stop energy waste. EDF has also thought of other solutions to reduce energy consumption, particularly during consumption peaks with special contracts or even the use of the system Ecowatt which makes it possible to know when it is better to consume or on the contrary avoid using energy.
The government is counting on mutual aid and European exchanges to hold out all winter without gas or electricity cuts, in particular on trade or rather strategic barter with Germany. If France has comfortable gas stocks, the supply of electricity is tighter while on the other side of the Rhine the production of electricity is quite sufficient when there is a shortage of gas. According to the diagram presented by Emmanuel Macron and Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the two countries could organize themselves to provide each other with energy.
European cooperation in the field of energy would be organized in other respects in particular, it is an idea of the Head of State, on the joint purchase of gas for the European countries thus making it possible to pay less for the supply in energy. Still on the cost of energy and gas, the government said it was in favor of capping the price of Russian gas, taking up a proposal from Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
The energy crisis could be symptomatic of the lack of diversity in France’s energy supply. Multiplying energy suppliers and sources would, according to the government, be a way of escaping the risk of shortages. Energy diversification is therefore an area in which France intends to spend the second by multiplying its gas suppliers to rely only on the Russian Gazprom. Countries like Norway and Algeria have been approached. There is also talk of diversifying resources to include more renewable energy and nuclear energy in the French energy mix.
Will France have enough gas to survive the winter?
“A priori we will not run out of gas this winter”, according to the general manager of Engie, Catherine Mac Gregor invited on RTL September 2nd. A statement confirmed several times by members of the government until Emmanuel Macron on September 5 after an interview with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. All are based on the excellent filling rate of gas stocks which will be 100% full before winter, which will allow, if the planned deliveries are honored throughout the season, to have “enough gas” to last a normal winter. . The case will be more difficult in the event of significant or repeated cold spells. The confident tone of the government, if it is confident about the energy crisis, remains vigilant and the call for energy sobriety is in order because it is partly the savings made upstream that will be decisive in avoiding possible cuts in gas or power cuts.
Gazprom deliveries interrupted
Gazprom has closed the floodgates. On September 1, the Russian giant decided to “completely” stop its deliveries to Engie “until full receipt of the financial sums due for the deliveries” because of a contractual dispute according to the Figaro. Due to reduced deliveries, the French company would only pay for the quantities of gas received rather than the entire order. However, the Minister for Energy Transition described Russian gas deliveries “at a low point but not at a standstill”. Even if Gazprom’s deliveries resume, these only represent 4% of Engie’s stocks and the French energy company claims to have put in place emergency measures to be able to continue gas deliveries to its customers even in the event of stoppage of Russian gas supplies.
Are there problems with the electricity supply?
On the electricity side, the supply of France has been undermined by the shutdown of more than half of the nuclear fleet: 32 reactors out of 56. But in view of the winter and the energy crisis, EDF promised to restart all of its reactors before the winter season. It should be noted that 20 machines are stopped for maintenance as provided for in the 2022 schedule and that 12 others had to be stopped due to corrosion problems. The restarting of the entire nuclear fleet is already good news, but the import of electricity from our European neighbours, in particular from Germany, will certainly be necessary. A hypothesis already planned by the government within the framework of European solidarity mentioned by Agnès Pannier-Runacher and Emmanuel Macron.
Four months from winter, the government and EDF seem to think that power cuts are unlikely this winter but that they remain a possibility not to be ruled out in the event of a supply problem or too harsh a winter. In the worst-case scenario, power cuts could affect individuals and professionals during rotating load shedding, that is to say cuts of a maximum of two hours organized according to rotation in different geographical areas. It should be noted that establishments or homes where a power outage is too dangerous as hospitals will be spared from load shedding operations. In addition to the cuts, the government could decide to reduce the voltage of the entire electrical network by increasing it from 230 to 220 Volts. This would have the effect of saving energy by reducing the lighting of the rooms, the quality of the wifi or slowing down the charging of electronic devices.