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.

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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

French consortium invests €7.3mn in offshore superconductivity project

A pilot project backed by the state aims to modernise electricity transport between offshore wind farms and the mainland grid using superconducting cables cooled with liquid nitrogen.

Russian oil tanker Boracay resumes voyage after being seized by France

After being intercepted by the French navy, the Boracay oil tanker, linked to Russia's shadow fleet, left Saint-Nazaire with its oil cargo, reigniting tensions over Moscow’s circumvention of European sanctions.

Fluxys declares force majeure at Dunkirk, disrupting LNG deliveries

The Dunkirk LNG terminal, the second largest in continental Europe, is seeing reduced capacity due to a nationwide strike disrupting all French LNG infrastructure.

TotalEnergies sells Norwegian oil assets to Vår Energi to reduce debt

TotalEnergies has reached a deal to sell mature offshore oil fields in the North Sea to Vår Energi as part of a $3.5bn divestment plan aimed at easing its rising debt.
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Orano wins legal case in uranium dispute over Somaïr site

An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.

SIG launches €1.6mn fundraising for 12 solar projects in Italy

Sun Investment Group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with Enerfip to raise up to €1.6mn ($1.7mn) to support the development of twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy totalling 113 MW.

France, Spain and Portugal seek to speed up electricity interconnectors

The three countries will hold a meeting in October to unlock interconnector projects, following a major blackout that exposed the fragility of the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity integration.
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Boralex launches energy support programme for residents near its power plants

Boralex rolls out an energy assistance scheme for residents near its wind and solar farms, with a pilot project launched in two communes in Haute-Loire.

TotalEnergies cuts investments while accelerating energy production

TotalEnergies plans to increase its energy production by 4% annually until 2030, while reducing global investments by $7.5bn amid what it describes as an uncertain economic environment.

EDF to invest €25bn to strengthen nuclear capacity by 2030

EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
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Exxon requests security guarantees for Mozambique gas project

Exxon is seeking direct support from the Mozambican government to secure its Rovuma LNG project, as Islamist violence continues to hinder investment in the country’s north.

Eiffage secures €1.5bn contract for offshore wind substations

Eiffage, through its Belgian subsidiary Smulders, will build three electrical substations to connect offshore wind farms in Brittany and the Mediterranean, under a contract exceeding €1.5bn ($1.59bn).

TotalEnergies postpones Mozambique LNG gas project restart to 2029

TotalEnergies has set 2029 as the restart date for its Mozambique LNG project, frozen since 2021, delaying the exploitation of a strategic investment worth more than $20bn in liquefied natural gas.
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EDF nuclear costs kept under control until 2028 according to CRE

The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.

TotalEnergies sells 50% of North American solar assets for $950 million

TotalEnergies will transfer half of a 1.4 gigawatt solar portfolio to KKR, strengthening its position in the North American power market while securing $950 million through the sale and bank refinancing.

EDF pushes back Flamanville EPR restart to 17 October

The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
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Global Bioenergies placed under judicial reorganisation pending potential buyer

The commercial court of Évry has initiated judicial reorganisation proceedings for Global Bioenergies, with no buyout offer submitted to date, leaving open the possibility of liquidation.

EDP inaugurates a 16MWc solar park on brownfield land in Menestreau

EDP, via EDP Renewables, inaugurates in Menestreau (Nièvre) a photovoltaic park of nearly 16MWc, comprising 29,630 panels and designed to produce about 19GWh per year, in co-activity with sheep farming.

Yaway opens in France an ultra-fast station directly connected to wind turbines in Breteuil

Yaway, a brand of Kallista Energy, commissions in Breteuil a very high-power charging station directly connected to wind turbines, offering a price of €0.30/kWh ($0.32/kWh) and a maximum power of 400 kW, with no subscription.
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ICSID blocks the sale of SOMAÏR uranium by the State of Niger

The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.

Lhyfe becomes the leading European producer of RFNBO hydrogen by electrolysis

With the certification of three new sites, Lhyfe takes the lead in the European RFNBO hydrogen market, reaching 21 MW of installed capacity across France and Germany.