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EDF Mobilizes All Available Generation as Temperatures in France Plummet

Electricité de France (EDF) last week mobilized all its nuclear, hydraulic, and thermal energy generation resources in order to meet France’s climbing electricity consumption, which resulted from an exceptional bout of cold weather.

As temperatures remained well below zero and snow fell even in traditionally temperate southern regions, the country faced reduced gas supplies due to Russia’s dispute with Ukraine. Last week, electricity consumption reached a new record of 91,838 MW, Reuters reported. Compared to this, a year ago on Jan. 7, 2008, France consumed about 75,693 MW, according to grid operator Réseau de Transport d’Electricité.  

In order to guarantee electricity supplies to all its customers, EDF connected almost every nuclear production unit and “run of river” hydro units to the network for baseload generation.

As they are particularly well-adapted for periods of high consumption, EDF also turned to its available fuel oil– and coal-fired thermal power stations—in particular the new combustion turbines brought into service in 2008 at Vitry-Arrighi (Val de Marne) and Vaires-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne). EDF said that these could be started up with great reliability in just 20 minutes to generate the power needed to cope with current demand peaks.

Added to that, the European generation giant said it utilized—and was thankful for—the hydraulic lake installations constructed in France’s mountainous regions. These “constitute real reserves for power generation, providing quick solution to sudden fluctuations in demand for electricity,” the company said. “Water stocks are currently sufficient, thanks to vigilant management throughout the year.”

EDF also has recourse to a previously negotiated scheme whereby some of its industrial customers limit their electricity consumption, and it can purchase electricity on the wholesale markets, should this prove necessary. This means that during a period of high demand, EDF has the spare capacity needed to contend with fluctuations in production or consumption.

Having already brought over 3,100 MW of thermal generation capacity into service between 2005 and 2008, EDF is planning to commission almost 1,900 MW of additional thermal capacity in France through 2012, to which 1,650 MW will be added by the new EPR reactor at Flamanville (Manche). EDF is also investing in renewable energies, its target being 4,000 MW by 2012.

“The current high demand for power confirms EDF Group’s strategy of investing in generation resources for future,” EDF Chairman and CEO Pierre Gadonneix said. “For three years now EDF, the leading investor in France, has been making unprecedented efforts to contribute towards guaranteeing the country’s security of supply.”

Sources: EDF, Reuters, Réseau de Transport d’Electricité

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