The French Energy Crisis

By Abby Leonardi

Over the last couple months, France lost half of their nuclear power plants, their main source of energy in the country. As a result, fossil fuel prices are reaching record numbers, cities must undergo scheduled blackout hours to conserve energy, and the government has lost millions of dollars trying to cure their unfaltering crisis. Officials in the country remain unsure of a clear solution, even requesting succor from other countries. With the current status in Ukraine, they are denied aid from these foreign powers and continue searching for internal ways to solve their dilemma. As winter months pass by, France as well as its population is left cold, alone, and, quite literally, in the dark. 

Since the installation of its first nuclear power plant in 1964, France easily became the world’s leader in nuclear energy, exporting approximately 44.91 billion kWh per year (Columbia University). For decades, this system proved secure, transforming the country into one of the world’s first self-sufficient clean energy producers. Currently, France houses and regulates 56 nuclear power plants, all of which remain generating power until early 2021. 

Because of France’s great success with nuclear power, they remained dependent on it for decades, with about 78% of the country’s total energy produced from this system alone. Comparably, only a small percent of their energy is generated from fossil fuels, meaning that France doesn’t spend as much money as other countries in producing power. As long as the nuclear power plants are well maintained and frequently checked for safety, the country reaps the many benefits of nuclear energy. 

However, in scheduled safety checks in early 2021, officials found that these power plants could prove to be extremely dangerous. They found evidence of corrosion in many of the reactors, a fault that can potentially cause incidents similar to Chernobyl and Fukushima. Inspectors claim that this corrosion formed as a result of neglect, as the plants did not remain well maintained by energy companies. Soon, half of France’s nuclear reactors halted their energy production, causing a dramatic decrease in the country’s energy production. 

As a result, officials in France are scrambling to find a solution to this crisis. They immediately seeked foreign assistance, though many countries were unable to help with the current status in Ukraine. They looked into hydroelectric power, finding that it could produce sufficient energy. However, it would take months to install this new system and, with winter just around the corner, the country had to find an immediate solution to their issue. 

In preparation, French president Emmanuel Macron issued a statement on September 5th, 2022. In this, he urged the country’s population to reduce their energy use, claiming that “The best energy is that which we don’t consume” (AP News). In order to overcome the crisis, he believes that France must conserve their energy, calling for a 10% cut nationally. The Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, proposes that this cut can be achieved with scheduled blackout hours. This strategy would cut the power of buildings or houses during hours when their inhabitants are at work or school, reducing the inconveniences coming from the limitation. 

Even as winter months come to an end, France is still in the midst of an energy crisis. Though now only 16 out of the 56 nuclear reactors are shut down, the country still faces power cuts on a national level. Many citizens believe that France should turn to alternative forms of energy such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. In addition to the citizens’ input, officials continue to propose more ways to limit energy use, including more blackout hours in major cities and turning to electricity instead. 

Although France seemingly reached success in their implementation of nuclear energy, their failure to follow through in maintenance and frequent check-ins led to the crisis they’ve faced for almost two years. As officials seek counsel internally and externally, there appears to be a literal and figurative light at the end of the tunnel for their dilemma. However, as of right now, France remains in the dark, searching for the solution that will save them from their long-lived crises. 

Works Cited

“Energy Crisis: ‘France Faces Blackouts for Lack of Common Sense.’” Le Monde.Fr, 14 Dec. 2022. Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2022/12/14/energy-crisis-france-faces-blackouts-for-lack-of-common-sense_6007794_23.html.

France: A Study of French Nuclear Policy After Fukushima | K=1 Project. https://k1project.columbia.edu/news/french-nuclear-policy-after-fukushima. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

“Macron Urges French to Save Energy, Seeks 10% Drop in Use.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 5 Sept. 2022, https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-macron-climate-and-environment-14313550b4fbd77a1f67c36203b881a9.