Nuclear Power in France Today
Today, nuclear power is the primary source of power in France. Seventy-five percent of electricity consumed in France is produced by nuclear power, the highest percentage in the entire world. Electricite de France, a largely government-owned electricity generation and distribution company manages the country’s 59 nuclear reactors.
Many critics have lauded France’s use of nuclear power, calling them a “success story” and ahead of the curve in providing energy low in CO2 emissions. However, the wake of the Fukushima disaster in 2011 has brought much media attention regarding the safety and necessity of the many active nuclear reactors. A number of problematic issues that Japan has faced as a result of the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown has influenced the French public’s opinion of nuclear power.
As a result, current French president Francois Hollande wants to cut nuclear output by one-third in 20 years. A new bill has been introduced and passed by French Parliament. This bill would reduce the percentage of nuclear energy from France’s energy mix from 75% to 50$ by 2025 and increasing the use of renewable sources of energy from 15% to 40% by 2030.
Although safety regarding nuclear waste is large concern for the French public, a major force behind this push for less reliance on nuclear power resides in the economics behind having a single major power source. After the Fukushima disaster, French people began to see the faults of having so much dependency on a singular source of power. For example, due to a "generic risk" if one reactor were to shut down in France, then all reactors would have to go offline to fix the problem.
So far, only one nuclear reactor has been designated for shutdown; the Fussenheim reactor on the German border of France. Even with Hollande's pledge to limit France's dependency on nuclear energy, the follow-through has been largely disappointing and questionable. It will be difficult to foresee France's relationship with nuclear energy in the future.
Many critics have lauded France’s use of nuclear power, calling them a “success story” and ahead of the curve in providing energy low in CO2 emissions. However, the wake of the Fukushima disaster in 2011 has brought much media attention regarding the safety and necessity of the many active nuclear reactors. A number of problematic issues that Japan has faced as a result of the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown has influenced the French public’s opinion of nuclear power.
As a result, current French president Francois Hollande wants to cut nuclear output by one-third in 20 years. A new bill has been introduced and passed by French Parliament. This bill would reduce the percentage of nuclear energy from France’s energy mix from 75% to 50$ by 2025 and increasing the use of renewable sources of energy from 15% to 40% by 2030.
Although safety regarding nuclear waste is large concern for the French public, a major force behind this push for less reliance on nuclear power resides in the economics behind having a single major power source. After the Fukushima disaster, French people began to see the faults of having so much dependency on a singular source of power. For example, due to a "generic risk" if one reactor were to shut down in France, then all reactors would have to go offline to fix the problem.
So far, only one nuclear reactor has been designated for shutdown; the Fussenheim reactor on the German border of France. Even with Hollande's pledge to limit France's dependency on nuclear energy, the follow-through has been largely disappointing and questionable. It will be difficult to foresee France's relationship with nuclear energy in the future.
Amiel, Geraldine. “France to Dim Its Reliance on Nuclear Power.” The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 18 June 2014. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. <http://online.wsj.com/articles/france-to-dim-its-reliance-on-nuclear-power-1403113287>.
Broomby, Rob. “France Struggles to Break Nuclear Habit.” BBC News. British Broadcasting Company, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25674581>.
“Key World Energy Statistics.” Iea.org. International Energy Agency, 2011. Web. July 2012. <http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2011/key_world_energy_stats.pdf>. “Nuclear Power in France.” World Nuclear Association. N.p., June 2012. Web. 9 July 2012. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf40.html>.
Broomby, Rob. “France Struggles to Break Nuclear Habit.” BBC News. British Broadcasting Company, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25674581>.
“Key World Energy Statistics.” Iea.org. International Energy Agency, 2011. Web. July 2012. <http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2011/key_world_energy_stats.pdf>. “Nuclear Power in France.” World Nuclear Association. N.p., June 2012. Web. 9 July 2012. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf40.html>.