19 Oct 2020 | 12:54 UTC — London

French nuclear hits 41 GW, up 12 GW over past month

Highlights

38 of 56 French reactors now online, five more scheduled before Dec.

Cold boosts demand, weekly average up 10 GW on month at 54 GW

Exports dip, but France remains net exporter for fourth week

London — French nuclear generation ramped up to 41 GW on Oct. 19 as more reactors returned to service after maintenance, lifting average output by 12 GW over the past four weeks, system data showed.

French nuclear averaged 39.5 GW in the seven days to Oct. 18, up 3 GW week on week.

Generation had averaged just 29 GW in the week to Sept. 20 (Week 38), with September's 30 GW average another monthly record low, down 8 GW on the year.

However, 38 of France's remaining 56 reactors with 61 GW capacity are now back online.

Five units are scheduled to return before December with Dampierre 1 next on Oct. 21.

FRENCH REACTOR WATCHLIST

Unit
MW
Outage Start
Scheduled Return
Notes
Dampierre 1
900
25/04/2020
21/10/2020
Chinon 1
900
15/08/2020
31/10/2020
Paluel 3
1300
20/06/2020
31/10/2020
Gravelines 6
900
13/06/2020
01/11/2020
Flamanville 2
1300
10/01/2019
08/11/2020
2019 overrun
Tricastin 1
900
09/10/2020
07/12/2020
Flamanville 1
1300
18/09/2019
15/12/2020
2019 overrun
Cruas 4
900
14/08/2020
24/12/2020
Paluel 2
1300
26/10/2019
31/12/2020
2019 overrun

Source: EDF Transparency

Operator EDF on Oct. 14 lifted its 2020 French nuclear output estimate by 10 TWh to a range of 325 TWh to 335 TWh after coronavirus restrictions on maintenance and potentially resulting winter supply concerns caused a 20% cut to 300 TWh in April.

EDF management said Oct. 15 that it sees sufficient nuclear supply for winter with 42 to 43 reactors expected online in November, according to a report by AFP with transparency data matching that statement.

France's nuclear fleet generated some 255 TWh so far this year, trailing 2019 by just over 50 TWh, with the mid-range of the upgraded forecast around 50 TWh below 2019's total.

Nuclear output is currently exceeding last year's levels for the first time since falling to a record low last November.

Net exports dip on drop in wind

Improved nuclear as well as rising hydro has put France back into a net export position for a fourth week in a row despite domestic demand rising to a season-high weekly average of 54 GW.

The coldest start to October since 1998 boosted peak demand above 60 GW last week with milder temperatures this week easing peak demand levels forecast again to peak at 65 GW Oct. 28, according to RTE's latest 7-day outlook.

Wind output, however, fell by over 3 GW on average in week 42, reducing overall net exports by a similar amount.

In September France was a net importer of electricity for the first time during a summer month.

FRENCH POWER GENERATION

Average (GW)
Week 42
Week 41
Week 40
Week 39
Week 38
Demand
54.0
48.8
47.9
43.6
44.3
Nuclear
39.5
36.5
33.9
31.0
29.1
Hydro
6.7
6.5
6.1
4.3
4.4
Wind
2.6
6.0
4.7
5.4
3.0
Gas
4.1
2.7
3.8
3.2
3.3
Coal
0.4
0.0
0.1
0.3
0.4
Solar
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.6
Net exports
-0.8
-4.0
-2.1
-1.9
2.2

Source: RTE

Editor:

James Leech