popular articles

France Launches an Energy Sobriety Plan to Face the Winter

All sectors have been solicited: the French government is presenting its energy sobriety plan on Thursday with great fanfare.

Please share:

Sports, work, government, trade, industry … All sectors have been solicited: the French government presents Thursday with great fanfare its plan for energy sobriety, intended to prepare for a difficult winter, without Russian gas and with many nuclear reactors stopped.

Among the “dozens of measures” planned, there is a call to heat and light less, an encouragement to telecommute, a financial incentive to carpooling or the cutting of hot water in the administrations (except showers)…

The goal is to reduce France’s energy consumption by 10% in two years, and in the meantime to ensure that the country spends the winter without gas or electricity cuts.

Half a century after the first oil crisis, French households and businesses will have to relearn how to reduce their electricity consumption during peak hours, in the morning and evening, and burn less gas throughout the winter, to save the reserves that are full but do not need to be replaced.
will not be enough.

To emphasize the urgency of the situation, no less than nine ministers will be present throughout the afternoon, exchanging with local elected officials, business representatives and the High Council for the Climate, to present these “savings measures”, the result of several months of work.

The event, at the Parc des expositions de la porte de Versailles in Paris, will be closed by the Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

It was she and her Minister of Energy Transition who announced the launch of this plan at the end of June, the “first step” in reducing France’s energy consumption by 40% by 2050 and working towards carbon neutrality. “In the longer term, energy sobriety will be
fundamental to achieving our climate goals,” they said.

“This sobriety plan is a voluntary long-term plan that starts from the field and is intended to be irreversible,” said Wednesday the Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher before the deputies. “It mobilizes first and foremost the major companies, the major local authorities and obviously the State, because
the effort must come first from those who have the most means and those who have the most impact”.

– Warm water and telecommuting –

The heating of water represents 10% of the energy for public buildings, explains the Ministry of the Civil Service, which must also announce an increase of 15% of the telework compensation, to 2.88 euros per day.

At the heart of the recommendations is the famous maintenance of the indoor temperature at 19°C, in the energy code since 1978.

“It’s the law, but customers were asking us for 21°C or even 22°C, because the price of fossil fuels was low,” says Pierre de Montlivault, president of the energy services federation. “Today the conditions are met so that together, companies, syndicates, lessors…” do it “for good”.

On the side of the sport, represented on Thursday in particular by Tony Estanguet, of the organizing committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, one foresees to lower the heating of the equipments, one degree less in the swimming pools, and a moderation of the lightings before and after matches.

In terms of lighting, a decree was published Thursday in the Official Journal to generalize the extinction of lights in stores and illuminated advertising between 1 and 6 hours.

Thursday will also see the launch of a communication campaign to hammer home the point that “every gesture counts”… But “there is no question of asking for additional efforts from the 12 million French people in a situation of energy insecurity”, said Mrs Pannier-Runacher.

With the surge in energy prices, fueled by the post-Covid recovery and the war in Ukraine but also by the problems of the nuclear reactors of Electricité de France (EDF), the word “sobriety” has arrived at the heart of public policies, after having often been taboo.

In advance, environmental NGOs have welcomed the government’s approach, while calling, as France Nature Environnement (FNE), to “see further than the end of the winter”.

Anne Bringault, who will speak on Thursday for the Climate Action Network, already doubts that the -10% target will be reached in two years, as long as “we remain essentially at the level of encouragement and incentives, with no planned follow-up of the commitments made and the real impacts of the measures”.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Africa captures only 2% of global clean energy investment in 2025

While capital is flowing into clean technologies globally, Africa remains marginalised, receiving only a fraction of the expected flows, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Mexican government aims to mobilise up to $9bn in private investment by 2030, but the lack of a clear commercial framework raises doubts within the industry.
The Mexican government aims to mobilise up to $9bn in private investment by 2030, but the lack of a clear commercial framework raises doubts within the industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is withdrawing strict fuel economy standards adopted under Biden, citing overreach in legal authority regarding the integration of electric vehicles into regulatory calculations for automakers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is withdrawing strict fuel economy standards adopted under Biden, citing overreach in legal authority regarding the integration of electric vehicles into regulatory calculations for automakers.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 33.9% of electricity consumption in metropolitan France, driven by increased hydropower output and solar capacity expansion.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 33.9% of electricity consumption in metropolitan France, driven by increased hydropower output and solar capacity expansion.

The CRE unveils its strategic guidelines for 2030

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced its strategic guidelines for 2030, focusing on the energy transition, European competitiveness and consumer needs.
Madrid paid an arbitration award to Blasket Renewable Investments after more than ten years of litigation related to the withdrawal of tax advantages for renewable energy investors.
Madrid paid an arbitration award to Blasket Renewable Investments after more than ten years of litigation related to the withdrawal of tax advantages for renewable energy investors.
The global renewable energy market continues to grow, reaching $1,200 billion in 2024, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), supported by investments in solar and wind energy.
The global renewable energy market continues to grow, reaching $1,200 billion in 2024, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), supported by investments in solar and wind energy.
The Québec government is granting $3.43mn to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Electric Cooperative to deploy smart meters and upgrade infrastructure across 16 municipalities.
The Québec government is granting $3.43mn to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Electric Cooperative to deploy smart meters and upgrade infrastructure across 16 municipalities.

Tariff increases slow down energy projects in the United States

New US tariff measures are driving up energy sector costs, with a particularly strong impact on storage and solar, according to a study by Wood Mackenzie.
Despite the proclaimed urgency, European climate investments stagnate around €500 billion per year, far from the estimated needs of nearly €850 billion. New financial instruments are attempting to revive an indispensable momentum.
Despite the proclaimed urgency, European climate investments stagnate around €500 billion per year, far from the estimated needs of nearly €850 billion. New financial instruments are attempting to revive an indispensable momentum.
African countries now spend more on debt service than on education and healthcare, limiting essential investments despite significant energy potential. The G20, under pressure, struggles to provide an adequate response to the financial and climate challenges.
African countries now spend more on debt service than on education and healthcare, limiting essential investments despite significant energy potential. The G20, under pressure, struggles to provide an adequate response to the financial and climate challenges.
Four renewable energy producers have been authorised to sell 400 MW directly to Egyptian industrial companies without public support.
Four renewable energy producers have been authorised to sell 400 MW directly to Egyptian industrial companies without public support.

Up to 30% of ASEAN data centres could be powered without batteries by 2030

A report by Ember shows ASEAN could supply nearly one-third of its data centres with wind and solar power by 2030 without storage, provided appropriate public policies are implemented.
Spanish authorities and grid operator REE denied conducting any experiment on the national electricity network prior to the massive outage on April 28, the cause of which remains unknown.
Spanish authorities and grid operator REE denied conducting any experiment on the national electricity network prior to the massive outage on April 28, the cause of which remains unknown.
Three trade trajectories projected by Wood Mackenzie show how tariff tensions could shift demand, prices and investment in the global energy sector.
Three trade trajectories projected by Wood Mackenzie show how tariff tensions could shift demand, prices and investment in the global energy sector.
The European Commission states the Union is on track to cut emissions by 54% by 2030, following updated national plans.
The European Commission states the Union is on track to cut emissions by 54% by 2030, following updated national plans.

South Korea Launches Tenders for 2.25 GW of Renewable Energy

South Korea announces two major tenders totaling 2.25 GW, split between offshore wind and solar, introducing new economic and technical criteria designed to strengthen energy security and attract international investors.
Ember anticipates that a third of ASEAN data centre electricity demand could be met by wind and solar by 2030, without batteries, if appropriate political measures are implemented.
Ember anticipates that a third of ASEAN data centre electricity demand could be met by wind and solar by 2030, without batteries, if appropriate political measures are implemented.
A Rocky Mountain Institute report reveals India’s energy ambition, with electricity demand potentially tripling by 2050, backed by an industrial policy focused on renewable energy.
A Rocky Mountain Institute report reveals India’s energy ambition, with electricity demand potentially tripling by 2050, backed by an industrial policy focused on renewable energy.
The Indonesian government targets a mixed energy expansion involving coal, gas, renewables, and nuclear, requiring IDR2,967.4tn ($235bn) in investment by the end of 2034.
The Indonesian government targets a mixed energy expansion involving coal, gas, renewables, and nuclear, requiring IDR2,967.4tn ($235bn) in investment by the end of 2034.

Washington prepares to remove emissions limits for coal and gas power plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is finalising a proposal to lift emissions caps for thermal power plants, amid a broader shift toward national energy security.
The Pakistani government is releasing 2,000 megawatts of power to support the development of data centres focused on artificial intelligence and Bitcoin mining, as part of a strategy to attract foreign investment.
The Pakistani government is releasing 2,000 megawatts of power to support the development of data centres focused on artificial intelligence and Bitcoin mining, as part of a strategy to attract foreign investment.
In April, China generated 26% of its electricity from wind and solar, according to Ember, marking a historic first that reflects a rapid rebalancing of its energy mix.
In April, China generated 26% of its electricity from wind and solar, according to Ember, marking a historic first that reflects a rapid rebalancing of its energy mix.
Belgium’s federal parliament has adopted a law authorising the extension of Doel-4 and Tihange-3 reactors and allowing new nuclear construction, ending the nuclear phase-out policy established in 2003.
Belgium’s federal parliament has adopted a law authorising the extension of Doel-4 and Tihange-3 reactors and allowing new nuclear construction, ending the nuclear phase-out policy established in 2003.

Advertising