Europe’s Biggest Exporter of Power Might Need Imports in Winter
- French nuclear woes push peak prices to more than 1,000 Euros
- Demand for imports set to test neighbors energy policies
Photographer: Alastair Miller/Bloomberg
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Extended outages and repairs at Electricite de France SA’s nuclear power plants are stoking fears that France won’t have enough electricity this winter and may need imports from its neighbors and it’s sending prices are soaring.
Output from France’s huge fleet of 56 nuclear reactors is forecast to be 25% lower than usual this winter, according to analysis by Baringa Partners LLP. France is usually Europe’s biggest exporter of power, sending vast amounts of electricity through interconnectors to the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. This winter flows are set to be reversed as the deficit of cheap power in France pushes up prices far above its neighboring markets.