France

Engie and Masdar secure 1.5 GW solar project in Abu Dhabi

The consortium led by Engie and Masdar has been selected to develop a 1.5 GW photovoltaic plant in Abu Dhabi, aimed at expanding the emirate’s solar capacity under its long-term energy strategy.

EBRD and Qair in talks for €19mn financing of 100 MW solar plant in Gafsa

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is reviewing a loan for a 100 MW photovoltaic project led by Qair in Tunisia, backed by a long-term power purchase agreement with the national utility.

Gauss Fusion unveils Europe’s first industrial design for a fusion power plant

Gauss Fusion has released a full-scale plan for GIGA, its first commercial fusion power plant, amid Germany’s growing ambition to lead the future energy race.
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Bercy veto blocks ABB’s attempt to acquire Legrand

ABB made several attempts to acquire Legrand, but the French government opposed the deal, citing strategic concerns linked to data centres.

Launch of a €400,000 local fundraising campaign for a wind farm in Brittany

Wpd launches a crowdfunding campaign to support the construction of the Bréhand wind farm, aiming to raise €400,000 from residents with a fixed annual interest rate of 7%.

CVE installs 140 kWc agrivoltaic demonstrator on cattle farm

French independent producer CVE has commissioned an agrivoltaic pilot project in Haute-Loire, aiming to test solar panel integration on a cattle farm ahead of a future 12 MWc installation.
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EDF lowers expected output of Flamanville EPR to 1,585 MW

EDF anticipates a 35 MW decrease in output for the Flamanville EPR between 2026 and 2031, citing a degraded performance level with no official technical explanation to date.

French electricity pricing reform raises concerns over increased consumer exposure

A parliamentary report questions the 2026 electricity pricing reform, warning of increased market exposure for households and a redistribution mechanism lacking clarity.

Air Liquide invests $50mn to expand its hydrogen network in Texas

Air Liquide announces a $50mn investment to strengthen its hydrogen network on the US Gulf Coast, following long-term contracts signed with two major American refiners.
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Brussels moves forward with plan to eliminate Russian oil and gas imports by 2028

Ambassadors of European Union member states have approved the transmission of a legislative proposal to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by January 2028 to the Council of Ministers.

France blocks Aquind’s €1.4bn power link project across the Channel

The Seine-Maritime prefecture denies Aquind access to public maritime domain, halting a €1.4bn ($1.47bn) Franco-British power interconnection project.

Denmark strengthens maritime controls at Skagen Strait amid Russian shadow fleet activity

Denmark is intensifying inspections of ships passing through Skagen, a strategic point linking the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, to counter the risks posed by the Russian shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil.
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TotalEnergies appoints Nicola Mavilla as global head of exploration

Nicola Mavilla succeeds Kevin McLachlan as TotalEnergies' Director of Exploration, bringing over two decades of international experience in the oil and gas industry.

VSB France launches 39.9 MW wind farm in Calvados

VSB France begins construction of its largest onshore wind project, a strategic 39.9 MW investment across two municipalities in Calvados, with commissioning scheduled for 2027.

TotalEnergies and Banque des Territoires launch a platform to equip local authorities

TotalEnergies and Banque des Territoires create a joint venture to accelerate the rollout of public electric charging infrastructure in French municipalities, with a focus on urban and suburban areas.
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Lesaffre harnesses waste heat to strengthen its industrial energy autonomy

Lesaffre and ENGIE Solutions have inaugurated a waste heat recovery unit in Marcq-en-Barœul, covering 70% of the site's thermal needs through two industrial heat pumps.

EDF power solutions commissions 30 MW biomass plant in Colombia

EDF power solutions and Refocosta have inaugurated Colombia’s largest wood biomass power plant in Villanueva, with 30 MW of capacity and an annual output of 200 GWh injected into the national grid.

France: Dalkia invests EUR18mn to expand Paris-Vallée de la Marne geothermal network

Dalkia and Paris-Vallée de la Marne launch a project to upgrade the GEOVAL network, aiming to deliver 20 GWh annually with 90% decarbonised energy.
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Axian investit $670mn dans un projet hydroélectrique stratégique à Madagascar

Le groupe Axian renforce son portefeuille énergétique avec le projet de barrage de Volobe à Madagascar, une initiative estimée à $670mn visant à étendre l’accès à l’électricité dans un pays en proie à de fortes tensions sociales.

France: SNCF signs two 25-year solar contracts with Octopus and BayWa r.e.

SNCF Voyageurs secures direct solar electricity supply from two plants owned by Octopus Energy and BayWa r.e., through 25-year agreements aimed at powering its rail network.

Energy methane emissions reach 120 million tonnes in 2024

Methane released by the oil, gas and coal sectors remained at near-record levels, according to the International Energy Agency, which flagged the scale of massive leaks detected.

LONGi signs strategic agreement with ENGIE to supply solar projects in the Middle East and North Africa

LONGi will supply its Hi-MO 9 solar modules to ENGIE for large-scale projects in the MENA region, marking a new phase in industrial adoption of back contact technology.

Orano loses contact with its representative in Niger after raids

Orano reports a lack of communication with its representative in Niger following a raid on its offices amid rising tensions with Nigerien authorities.
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Euronext launches three indices to strengthen defence and energy financing

Stock exchange operator Euronext unveils thematic indices to channel capital into Europe's strategic energy, defence and aerospace sectors.

KHNP’s nuclear contract in Czech Republic suspended after legal action by EDF

Czech justice has suspended the signing of a major contract between Prague and South Korea’s KHNP, following a complaint by French group EDF challenging the fairness of the Dukovany nuclear project tender.

Bayrou promises an open energy roadmap ahead of decree publication

Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed that France’s 2025–2035 energy roadmap remains under discussion and will only be finalised after parliamentary debates starting on 16 June.
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GazelEnergie restarts Gardanne biomass plant with reduced wood supply

A public inquiry on Gardanne’s biomass sourcing begins as GazelEnergie resumes operations at 4,000 hours per year.

Macron welcomes Berdymukhamedov in pursuit of gas deals with Turkmenistan

The French president hosts Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Paris to finalise economic agreements amid geopolitical rivalries over Central Asian gas resources.

ITER to open its facilities to the public on 17 May in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance

The international ITER project is organising an open day at its nuclear fusion site in the Bouches-du-Rhône, with teams mobilised to showcase the progress of the experimental installation to the public.
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The Iberian blackout reignites tensions over grid adaptation to renewables

RTE states that no evidence currently links the Iberian blackout to renewable energy sources, as a European investigation begins and interconnections emerge as a strategic issue.

Subsea7 secures major contract with Petrobras for Búzios 11 field

Petrobras has awarded Subsea7 a large-scale contract for the development of the Búzios 11 field, located in the pre-salt Santos basin offshore Brazil.

Tehran rejects French and US threats over its oil exports

Iran responded to threats of sanctions from the United States and France, denouncing what it sees as illegitimate political pressure and reaffirming its stance on the legality of its oil exports.
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Iberian power outage: Madrid cites a complex incident and urges Paris on interconnections

One week after the massive blackout, Spain and Portugal continue their investigations with no technical conclusion, while Madrid calls on France to accelerate cross-border interconnection projects.

Shell posts net profit of $4.8bn in Q1 2025 despite falling oil prices

Shell plc recorded a net profit of $4.8bn in the first quarter of 2025, down 35%, but above analyst expectations, supported by solid operational performance and a new share buyback programme.

Voltalia records 15% increase in production despite price pressure

Voltalia’s revenue rose by 2% in the first quarter of 2025, driven by third-party services, while energy production reached 1.1 terawatt-hours due to improved resources in Brazil.
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Peter Dutton commits $200bn to bypass nuclear ban in Australia

Australia’s opposition leader unveils a seven-reactor plan, challenging current energy policy days before federal elections and reviving a decades-old debate.

Technip Energies raises forecast after 22% revenue surge

Technip Energies posted a double-digit growth in Q1 2025, supported by a record order backlog of €18.2bn ($19.46bn), despite regulatory uncertainties in the United States.

ASNR changes its publication practices following nuclear sector merger

The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) will now publish its decisions and expert reports simultaneously, amid a controversial merger of nuclear oversight bodies.
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French regulator lowers pace of renewable energy development

The French Energy Regulatory Commission proposes reducing certain renewable generation targets due to a slower-than-expected rise in electricity demand.

TotalEnergies posts 33% drop in net profit in first quarter

TotalEnergies saw its net profit fall to $3.9bn in the first quarter, impacted by lower oil prices, despite an increase in its hydrocarbon and electricity production.