France

Newcleo launches European safeguards process for lead-cooled modular reactor

French nuclear reactor developer Newcleo has submitted its lead-cooled small modular reactor design to Euratom, initiating the first regulatory phase to integrate nuclear non-proliferation safeguards at the European level.

EDF raises cost estimate for six new nuclear reactors to €72.8 billion

French state utility EDF has increased the maximum estimated cost for building six new nuclear reactors to €72.8 billion ($85.29 billion), representing a 40% rise over the original figure.

France postpones publication of energy roadmap to 2026

The government has postponed the release of the new Multiannual Energy Programme to early 2026, delayed by political tensions over the balance between nuclear and renewables.
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France: the Council of State bans coalbed methane exploitation in Lorraine

The Council of State has cancelled the authorisation to exploit coalbed methane in Lorraine, citing risks to the region's main aquifer and bringing an end to a legal battle that began over a decade ago.

Technique Solaire secures €40mn junior debt to support 392 MWp in projects

Technique Solaire has secured €40mn ($43.5mn) in junior debt from BNP Paribas Asset Management to structure two solar portfolios totalling 392 MWp across France, Spain and the Netherlands.

Neoen wins 124 MWp in solar projects in latest French government tender

Independent power producer Neoen has secured six agrivoltaic projects totalling 124 MWp, reinforcing its position as the leading winner in French solar tenders since 2021.
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TOPCon 4.0 vs HJT: the financial trade-off in the solar sector in 2026

As the photovoltaic industry enters a phase of deep restructuring, the duel between TOPCon 4.0 and heterojunction technologies is redefining manufacturers’ margins. In 2026, reducing production costs becomes the primary strategic lever for global market leaders.

BayWa r.e. sells 46 MW floating solar project in the Netherlands

BayWa r.e. has finalised the sale of a 46 MW floating solar park, the country’s largest, to a Dutch public-local consortium, marking a new step in the decentralised structuring of the solar market in the Netherlands.

Gasunie and Thyssengas to link Dutch and German hydrogen networks

Gasunie and Thyssengas have signed an agreement to convert existing gas pipelines into hydrogen conduits between the Netherlands and Germany, facilitating integration of Dutch ports with German industrial regions.
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Dalkia wins €15bn contract to manage Paris heating network until 2050

The Paris Council awards a €15bn, 25-year contract to Dalkia, a subsidiary of EDF, to operate the capital’s heating network, replacing long-time operator Engie amid political tensions ahead of municipal elections.

50Hertz plans 30 GW of new electrical interconnections by 2029

German grid operator 50Hertz commits to nearly 30 GW of new connection capacity by 2029, amid network saturation and calls for reforming access procedures.

Germany grants $24.3 million to Nigeria to accelerate its energy transition

Berlin strengthens its cooperation with Abuja through funding aimed at supporting Nigeria’s energy diversification and consolidating its renewable infrastructure.
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Newcleo considers shifting €16bn nuclear projects from the UK to the United States

Faced with shorter approval timelines, several European nuclear firms, including Newcleo, Orano and Urenco, are considering relocating key industrial investments to the United States.

Fusion Fuel Cycles joint venture begins construction of UNITY-2 test facility

Fusion Fuel Cycles has begun work on its UNITY-2 facility, a unique test bench designed to validate the full tritium fuel cycle under fusion conditions, marking a key step toward fusion energy.

Vallourec to deliver over 30,000 tonnes of pipes for TotalEnergies in Iraq

TotalEnergies has tasked Vallourec with supplying tubular solutions for drilling 48 wells as part of its integrated gas project in Iraq, reinforcing their ongoing industrial cooperation on the Ratawi field.
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Framatome launches pilot line for TRISO nuclear fuel in France

Framatome will produce TRISO fuel at Romans-sur-Isère as part of a pilot project for advanced nuclear reactors, in partnership with actors such as Blue Capsule Technology.

Five companies launch SupraMarine to test offshore superconducting cables

The consortium brings together Air Liquide, RTE, Nexans, ITP Interpipe and CentraleSupélec to develop a demonstrator for offshore electricity transport using superconducting cables cooled with liquid nitrogen.

Q ENERGY commissions new 26 MW wind farm in Haute-Marne

Developer Q ENERGY has inaugurated a seventh wind farm in Biesles, Haute-Marne, with Velto Renewables acquiring a 50% ownership stake.
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Wind fisher launches first Magnus-effect wind turbine to harness high-altitude winds

French start-up Wind fisher unveils a pioneering airborne wind system capable of producing twice as much electricity as a ground-based turbine by tapping into powerful winds above 300 metres.

Lhyfe to deliver 90 tonnes of RFNBO hydrogen to a German operator over 15 months

French hydrogen producer Lhyfe has signed an agreement to supply 90 tonnes of RFNBO-certified hydrogen to a private fuel station operator in Germany for a fleet of buses.

EU funds €3.5mn cross-border hydrogen infrastructure project

The European Commission grants €3.5mn to support preparatory work for a Franco-German cross-border network aimed at transporting hydrogen between the Grand Est region and Baden-Württemberg starting in 2029.

McPhy Energy faces judicial liquidation after reviewing submitted offers

French company McPhy Energy awaits a court decision regarding offers submitted during its judicial reorganization, paving the way for probable liquidation and potential delisting of its shares.

Germany Shakes Up Biomethane and GHG Markets with New RED III Directive

Germany’s announcement to eliminate double counting is shaking up manure-based biomethane and GHG certificate markets, prompting buyers to anticipate significant price hikes.
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World Bank resumes nuclear financing after decades of absence

After several decades without funding nuclear projects, the World Bank has formed a strategic partnership with the IAEA to provide technical and financial support to countries integrating nuclear energy into their energy strategies.

UK urged to accelerate electricity price reforms

The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.

Brussels expands subsidies for low-carbon technologies and nuclear power

The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
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Underground Hydrogen Storage: High Costs and Technical Challenges Hamper Growth

Underground hydrogen storage, essential to support its growth, continues to face significantly higher costs than natural gas storage, along with major technical challenges hindering its competitiveness against conventional energies.

Brno rejects EDF lawsuit over Czech nuclear contract

A regional court has upheld the award of two new reactors in the Czech Republic to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, dismissing Électricité de France’s challenge to the €16bn contract in a decisive step for the national energy programme.

EDF anticipates immediate reduction in nuclear output amid heatwave

Facing rising temperatures, EDF anticipates cuts in nuclear production starting early July, primarily due to thermal constraints on rivers used for cooling the power plants.
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EU Approves Targeted Energy Aid for Europe’s Heavy Industries

Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."

France Officially Launches Its First Floating Wind Farm in the Mediterranean

France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.

France and Norway formalize an agreement on cross-border CO₂ transport

France and Norway sign an agreement facilitating the international transport of CO₂ to offshore geological storage facilities, notably through the Northern Lights project and the CO₂ Highway Europe infrastructure.
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France: Petit Doré wind farm delivers its first Breton megawatt-hours

Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.

France: Aix-Marseille metropolitan area inaugurates community solar park on former industrial site

The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area has inaugurated a 2.6 MWp community solar park in Mallemort, built on a former landfill, designed to annually generate 4,150 MWh of electricity to meet local energy needs.

France: RATP inaugurates its first solar power plant with Urbasolar

RATP and Urbasolar officially inaugurated the Colombier photovoltaic power plant, the first large-scale solar installation operated by the Parisian public transport operator, set to produce 14 GWh of electricity per year.
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Orano challenges Niger’s decision to nationalize mining company SOMAÏR

Niger announces its intention to nationalize SOMAÏR, a mining company jointly owned with Orano, provoking strong opposition from the French company and paving the way for further international legal tensions.

Saint-Nazaire selects Dalkia for its 90% renewable heating network

Saint-Nazaire Agglo and Dalkia officially sign a Public Service Delegation contract for a 37-kilometre urban heating network, primarily fuelled by thermal recovery and local biomass, operational from 2030.

Airbus selects ENGIE to decarbonise 22 industrial sites across Europe

ENGIE secures a contract to reduce Airbus' industrial emissions in France, Germany, and Spain, targeting an 85% decrease by 2030 through various local energy infrastructures.
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MondialBox Saint-Nazaire inaugurates 4,500 m² of photovoltaic canopies with ActiSun

MondialBox Saint-Nazaire deploys 2,300 photovoltaic panels covering 4,500 m², annually generating 800 MWh of decarbonized energy, in partnership with SeeYouSun and Sonadev, via ActiSun, a program dedicated to solarizing industrial and commercial spaces.

France: Moratorium on renewables; warning about immediate industrial impact

French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.