France

Mundi Énergies launches twenty renewable energy hubs in Canada with Haffner Energy

Mundi Énergies partners with Haffner Energy to create a network of twenty multi-energy hubs in Quebec, using residual biomass to produce renewable gas and strengthen Canada’s energy independence.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.

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.
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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.

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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

Boralex secures 125 MW in France’s PPE2 wind tender

The Canadian energy producer led the tenth wind tender launched by the CRE, with two projects representing 13% of the allocated capacity, strengthening its strategic position in the French market.

BW Ideol secures up to €74mn for concrete floater plant in Fos-sur-Mer

The European Commission has selected BW Ideol’s Fos3F project for a grant of up to €74mn, targeting the construction of a concrete floater plant for floating wind turbines at the industrial site of Fos-sur-Mer.
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Boralex deepens its losses in Q3 despite 7% production increase

Canadian company Boralex reported a net loss of CAD30mn in the third quarter, impacted by lower electricity prices in France and adverse weather conditions in North America.

Orano recovers its representative in Niger amid growing nuclear tensions

French nuclear group Orano has confirmed the release of its representative in Niger, detained since May, as tensions remain high with the country’s junta over control of uranium assets.

Henri Proglio and EDF Acquitted in the Consultant Contract Case

EDF and its former CEO Henri Proglio have been acquitted in a favoritism case related to consultancy contracts awarded between 2010 and 2016. The court ruled that there was no evidence of a criminal intent, despite the accusations from the Parquet National Financier.

The French Council of State Demands a Decree to Regulate Wind Farm Deployment

The French Council of State has dismissed complaints regarding renewable energy development targets while calling for the issuance of a decree to clarify wind farm deployment rules in France.

EDF reaches an agreement with Gipreb for better management of freshwater discharges

EDF and the Groupement d’intérêt public pour la réhabilitation de l’étang de Berre have reached an agreement to optimize the management of freshwater discharges into this Mediterranean lagoon, reducing the risks of suffocation for local fauna and flora.
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France accelerates offshore wind development with a 10 GW tender

The French government confirms the launch of a tender for 8 to 10 GW of offshore wind by the end of 2024, aiming to reach a total capacity of 18 GW by 2035.

Renewable energy dominates Dutch electricity production in 2024

For the first time, renewable energy has generated more than half of the total electricity produced in the Netherlands, accounting for 53% of the energy mix in the first half of 2024, according to data from Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS).

France: High Council for Climate, Impact of Budget Cuts on Climate Policy

The High Council for Climate (HCC) criticizes the government's budgetary strategy, highlighting a weakening of France's decarbonation efforts. The reduction in funding hampers the achievement of carbon neutrality goals set for 2050.
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High-voltage power line to Fos-sur-Mer: Validation of the contested corridor

The Prefect of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur has approved a route for the high-voltage power line linking Jonquières-Saint-Vincent to Fos-sur-Mer. This project, supported by the industry, faces strong opposition from local officials and environmental groups.

Engie strengthens its position in Brazil with a major victory in the 2024 transmission auction

Engie secured the main lot in Brazil's second power transmission auction of 2024, with an investment of 2.9 billion reais, further solidifying its expansion strategy in the country’s energy infrastructure sector.

EDF and Henri Proglio Face Trial for Favoritism Over 44 Contracts Without Competition

EDF and its former CEO Henri Proglio are on trial for contracts awarded without public tender between 2010 and 2016. The Parquet National Financier estimates the value of these contracts at €36 million, involving consultants close to the executive.
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Belgium calls for coordinated ban on Russian LNG in Europe

Belgium is pushing the European Union to adopt a coordinated ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), arguing for a legal basis to speed up the phase-out of fossil fuels from Russia.

Electric vehicles will revolutionize the repair market by 2030

The rise of electric vehicles and driver assistance systems will redefine the automotive repair market. Despite a decline in conventional interventions, the sector's sales are set to increase slightly between now and 2030.

France: Saint-Avold abandons biomass for gas-fired conversion

The Saint-Avold power plant, initially slated for conversion to biomass, is to be converted to gas. A strategic decision to meet the power grid's need for flexibility while limiting costs.
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Libya: New appointment to the Central Bank, key to the oil crisis

Libya, torn between its eastern and western factions since 2014, has reached a crucial agreement to appoint new leadership to the Central Bank. This agreement, announced on September 25, 2024, could be decisive in unblocking a crisis situation that is paralyzing the country's economy and its oil sector, the state's main source of revenue.

France: Ile-de-France relies on geothermal energy to save money

Geothermal energy in the Paris region, which has been well established since the 1980s, is proving to be a reliable and economical solution for district heating, limiting dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring long-term price stability.

Molecular chemistry: A new way to store solar energy

Researchers are developing an innovative method for storing solar energy using photochromic molecules, offering promising prospects for the energy sector.
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French electricity producers warn of impact of new tax

Major players in the French electricity sector are warning of the potential consequences of a new tax on electricity production, which could significantly affect their investments and long-term strategies.

Strike at Cordemais: Unions call for EDF CEO to come to the plant

Unions at the Cordemais coal-fired power station have called a strike and are demanding that EDF CEO Luc Rémont come to the plant to explain the abandonment of the biomass conversion project.

IEA: Global oil demand held back by China’s economy

Global oil demand is set to grow at a more moderate pace, below the one million barrels per day mark, mainly due to the slowdown in the Chinese economy, according to recent forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
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Spain targets 81% renewable electricity by 2030

The Spanish government has set a target of generating 81% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, while stepping up its ambitions for green hydrogen.

EDF announces definitive shutdown of Cordemais coal-fired power plant by 2027

EDF abandons plans to convert the Cordemais power plant. Electricity production will cease in 2027, with major repercussions for employment and the region's energy balance.