# France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe’s energy resolve Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-12-09 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Europe Prepares for First Winter Cold Snap Amid Electricity Meta Description: Stay informed about Europe's efforts to save energy during the winter cold snap and nuclear outages. Avoid electricity cuts with timely updates. URL: https://financedigest.com/france-strains-to-avert-power-cuts-as-cold-snap-tests-europes-energy-resolvehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-12-09t211815z1lynxmpeib80xfrtroptp4france-energy-1736814742126-compressed.jpg) By Gus Trompiz and Forrest Crellin PARIS (Reuters) -France expects to avoid electricity cuts on Monday but faces a difficult week as the first cold snap of the winter tests Europe’s resolve to save energy and mitigate the economic impact of the Ukraine war. Leaders across the region have said eveyone needs to get serious about using less fuel after unusually mild weather until now had made the task relatively easy. Although Europe’s gas storage is almost 90% full after concerted efforts following the disruption of [Russian supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-gains-as-russian-supply-cuts-temper-concerns-over-rate-hikes-high-stocks.html "Oil gains as Russian supply cuts temper concerns over rate hikes, high stocks") linked to its invasion of Ukraine, a series of nuclear outages, especially in France, are adding to nervousness of outages. A technical glitch briefly [cut off the power](https://www.financedigest.com/emergency-call-services-telcos-urge-eu-to-protect-telecoms-networks-from-power-cuts.html "Emergency call services, telcos urge EU to protect telecoms networks from power cuts") in parts of Paris late on Thursday, prompting one Twitter user to ask: “Is it starting?”, while posting an image of a street in darkness. The country is in focus as corrosion has taken a record number of reactors out of action, reducing its nuclear output to a 30-year low. But [despite concerns that supply could fall](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-survey-shows-rising-inflation-expectations-despite-energy-price-falls.html "ECB survey shows rising inflation expectations despite energy price falls") short at the start of the week as temperatures in Europe plunge, RTE grid operator said there were no planned cuts for Monday for now. An 8.3% drop in electricity use last week will help, RTE said, adding that 41 of [EDF’s nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-competition-watchdog-to-examine-edf-buying-ges-nuclear-turbine-unit.html "UK’s competition watchdog to examine EDF buying GE’s nuclear turbine unit") reactors should be available from Monday, generating an output of 39 gigawatts, and that should be enough. [EDF said it had ramped up output at three nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") reactors following repairs, and it hoped to start corrosion repairs at its Penly 2 nuclear reactor in mid January. [RISKS RISE](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-governors-see-rising-risk-of-rate-hitting-2-to-curb-inflation-sources.html "ECB governors see rising risk of rate hitting 2% to curb inflation – sources") IF COLD WEATHER PERSISTS Emeric de Vigan, vice president of power at data and analytics firm Kpler said efforts by companies and households to reduce consumption should allow [France to avoid imposed load-shedding on Monday but risks](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point") could increase if the cold spell persisted all next week. Energy prices, which have [hit record](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-shop-price-inflation-hits-record-8-in-january-brc-2.html "UK shop price inflation hits record 8% in January: BRC") levels this year, surged on Friday in response to nervousness demand would outstrip supply, before easing in later trade. France is one of the most nuclear-power dependent [countries and typically generates more than 70% of its electricity from its fleet of 56 reactors as well as providing about 15% of Europe’s](https://www.financedigest.com/best-countries-in-europe-to-live-in.html "Best countries in Europe to live in") total power through exports. The government, which has warned [power cuts could happen this winter](https://www.financedigest.com/first-winter-cold-snap-tests-french-power-grid.html "First winter cold snap tests French power grid"), said any outages would not exceed two hours and would be flagged ahead of time. Elsewhere in Europe, Finland’s national grid operator Fingrid said the risk of power outages on [winter days had increased in the country following](https://www.financedigest.com/10-million-to-be-whipped-into-ice-cream-brand-four-winters-following-acquisition.html " Million To Be Whipped Into Ice Cream Brand Four Winters Following Acquisition ") another postponement of the start-up of the new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power reactor. In neighbouring Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference: “Many Swedes have [saved electricity for purely cost reasons](https://www.financedigest.com/five-reasons-to-start-saving-early-for-higher-education.html "Five Reasons to Start Saving Early for Higher Education"). Now we want to ask the Swedish people to [save electricity](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop") also to reduce the risk of power cuts. Meanwhile, Belgium’s natural gas [supply could be at risk this winter](https://www.financedigest.com/ceraweek-europe-gas-supplies-to-stay-tight-2-more-winters-equinor-ceo-says.html "CERAWEEK-Europe gas supplies to stay tight 2 more winters, Equinor CEO says") in the event of a cold wave, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported on Friday citing a leaked government-ordered report. (Additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel, Dominique Vidalon, Belen Carreno; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Barbara Lewis) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---