France: The Senate wants to include dam reform in the energy planning bill

The Senate's economic affairs committee recommends including the reform of the legal framework for dams in the upcoming energy bill to avoid competitive tendering, following a principle agreement between Paris and Brussels.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The Senate’s economic affairs committee is pushing for a change in the legal status of French hydroelectric concessions to be included in the next energy planning law. This reform aims to avoid the re-tendering of expired concessions, in line with an agreement reached between French authorities and the European Commission.

Hydropower facilities, the second-largest source of electricity production in France, are mostly operated under a concession system. Under this model, the State owns the infrastructure and grants operation rights to a third party for a fixed period. However, the non-renewal of concessions has triggered a dispute lasting more than 20 years with Brussels, which has been demanding open competition.

Towards a legal status change

A summary of a Senate report, prepared by a cross-party mission including senators Daniel Gremillet, Patrick Chauvet, Jean-Jacques Michau, and Fabien Gay, proposes moving from a concession regime to an authorisation model. This shift would end the legal dispute with the European Union while securing long-term operational control.

According to the report, this new framework would provide greater legal and economic stability, although the exact terms for transferring ownership from the State to another entity remain undefined. Former Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed in August a principle agreement with Brussels, paving the way for legislation to be introduced by members of Parliament.

Amendment proposed for the Gremillet bill

The Senate now recommends incorporating this reform into the energy roadmap bill led by Daniel Gremillet. The draft, currently on hold pending the formation of a new government, is described by the senators as “the fastest and most practical legislative vehicle to advance”.

The Senate mission aligns with the findings of an earlier report by MPs Marie-Noëlle Battistel and Philippe Bolo, who also advocated for revising the legal regime for hydropower dams to restore visibility for sector stakeholders.

Recommendations to guide the reform

The Senate report outlines 15 recommendations across four main areas. These include a prior assessment of the technical robustness and financial impact of the legal change, securing economic and social conditions, enhancing local governance of facilities, and revising national and European regulatory frameworks.

The rapporteurs also call for a clearer regulatory structure to guide future decisions regarding the management of hydroelectric resources. The legislative timeline will depend on the appointment of a new government.

Swedish ocean energy developer Minesto joined a high-level trade mission to South Korea to explore new cooperation opportunities in marine energy.
The Tokyo Bureau of Transportation is seeking a new electricity retailer for the output of its three hydropower plants, with a portion resold to power the city’s transport infrastructure.
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has raised its stake to approximately 15% in ISAGEN, one of Colombia’s leading power producers, through a $535mn investment alongside Brookfield.
New Delhi plans to allocate INR6.4tn ($77bn) to develop transmission infrastructure for 76 GW of electricity from the Brahmaputra Basin by 2047, amid growing cross-border pressures.
Moscow strengthens industrial joint ventures with Tajikistan by leveraging hydropower, agriculture, and mining in a strategy based on mutual interest and economic complementarity.
Gabon has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Todini to develop two hydropower plants in Booué and Tsengué-Lélédi, with an estimated value of $1.78 billion to address electricity shortages.
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.
Nagano Prefecture has commissioned a new 1.5MW hydropower plant to supply Seiko Epson’s Ina facility under a sleeved power purchase agreement managed by Chubu Electric Power Miraiz.
The Canadian government is investing nearly CAD17mn ($12.4mn) to support two hydroelectric initiatives led by Indigenous communities in Quebec, aiming to reduce diesel dependency in remote regions.
Federal funding targets FORCE’s PICO platform and an Acadia study on fish–turbine collision risks, aiming to reduce regulatory uncertainty and accelerate industrial adoption in the Bay of Fundy.
The Norwegian operator plans to install a third turbine to capture part of today’s bypassed floodwater without changing the flow on the salmon stretch; commissioning would be at the earliest in 2030. —
Norway’s Statkraft continues its exit from the Indian market with the sale of its Tidong hydropower project to JSW Energy, which strengthens its asset portfolio in Himachal Pradesh.
Eco Wave Power and BladeRanger have unveiled a first-of-its-kind drone-powered maintenance system for onshore wave energy infrastructure, aimed at reducing operational costs and improving system performance.
A TEHA-Enel report highlights that 86% of Italy's hydropower concessions are expiring, threatening key investments and the country's energy security.
Hull Street Energy has signed an agreement to acquire thirteen hydroelectric dams from Consumers Energy, totalling 132 MW, further consolidating its position in the North American hydro sector.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is now fully operational, with a planned capacity of 5,150 MW, marking a key step in the country’s energy deployment.
Sweden's Minesto begins a SEK25mn ($2.26mn) tidal microgrid project in the Faroe Islands, targeting integration with local applications such as electric vehicle charging and industrial processes.
The Grand Renaissance Dam, set to be inaugurated in September, aims to produce 5,000 megawatts and could generate up to $1 billion per year for Ethiopia, according to the government.
A principle agreement between Paris and Brussels opens the way to reforming the legal framework of hydroelectric concessions in France, ending a deadlock that lasted over ten years.
Swedish company Eco Wave Power has completed testing of its technology at the Port of Los Angeles, reaching a tangible milestone with the launch of its floaters to generate electricity from waves.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.