Market Report, "France Power Report Q1 2015", published

On July 30 2014, the French cabinet passed the first substantial energy bill. The long - awaited act is the first concrete step to fulfil the electoral promises by President Francois Hollande to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the electricity mix from the current 75% to 50% by 2025. The bill confirms the proposal presented in June by Energy and Environment Minister Ségolène Royal to cap nuclear energy at 63.2GW, the current levels. The bill then primarily focuses on boosting energy efficiency and energy sufficiency.

However, we maintain that major questions remain over the government's ability to deliver this policy. Political conviction remains questionable amid concerns that the transition will damage the nuclear industry, one of France's most strategic assets. The bill appears to be light on detail with regards to the mechanics of policy delivery; the way in which nuclear capacity will be phased out needs further clarification. In particular the bill fails to address the question of returns of renewable energy. While it will contribute to a slowdown, or even reduction, in electricity demand, without actively addressing growth in renewable energy, it might even lead, in the medium term, to an increase of nuclear energy in the country's electricity mix. However, the replacement of EDF's CEO Henri Proglio in October is another signal to the energy industry that President Hollande is increasingly serious about his plans to bolster renewables at the expense of domestic nuclear power. A new bill to be proposed by Royal focusing on boosting geothermal could also contribute to overcome some of the challenges of the energy transition.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/951096_france_power_report_q1_2015.aspx?afid=303

Some of the key policy mechanisms proposed by the new bill are:

Nuclear capacity cap: A hard cap of 63.2GW of nuclear capacity on Electricite de France (EDF). EDF is partially government-owned and is the sole operator of nuclear plants in France. The utility currently operates 63.2GW of capacity and will not be...

The France Power Report features Business Monitor International (BMI)'s market assessment and independent forecasts covering electricity generation (coal, gas, oil, nuclear, hydro and non-hydro renewables), electricity consumption, trade, transmission and distribution losses and electricity generating capacity.

The France Power Report also analyses the impact of regulatory changes, recent developments and the background macroeconomic outlook and features competitive landscapes comparing national and multinational operators by sales, market share, investments, projects, partners and expansion strategies.

Key Benefits

* Use BMI's independent industry forecasts for France to test other views - a key input for successful budgeting and strategic planning in the power market.

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