French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans to transform the nation's two coal-fired power plants, boasting a combined capacity of 1.8 gigawatts (GW), into biomass-fueled facilities by the year 2027. President Macron detailed these plans during a televised interview on September 24th, emphasizing France's commitment to achieving its climate targets within the next seven years.
France's ambitious climate objectives include reducing emissions by 55% by 2030, measured against a 1990 baseline, in alignment with the European Union's (EU) broader climate objectives. President Macron expressed confidence in the feasibility of these targets following a special government meeting dedicated to the topic.
Central to Macron's strategy is a concerted effort to diminish the country's reliance on fossil fuels and promote the adoption of electric vehicles. To facilitate these changes, annual investments in green initiatives will see a notable increase of €7 billion, reaching €40 billion from a previous budget of €33 billion. A substantial portion of these funds will be allocated to the conversion of the two remaining coal-burning power plants into biomass-powered facilities.
These plants, namely the 1.2 GW Cordemais and the 600 MW Emile Hutchet plant located in Saint Avold, were initially slated for closure by the previous year. However, unforeseen energy challenges, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the shutdown of nuclear reactors in France, necessitated a delay in these plans.
Despite the bold moves outlined by President Macron, his policies have faced criticism from environmental activists. Greenpeace France, in particular, questioned the extent of Macron's ambition, contending that he should have also set specific timelines for phasing out fossil oil and gas. Nicolas Nace, Greenpeace France's energy transition campaigner, remarked, “If he were truly ambitious and a forerunner, Emmanuel Macron would also have announced dates for phasing out fossil oil and gas.”
President Macron's commitment to transitioning coal-fired power plants to biomass represents a crucial step in France's journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible energy landscape. As the nation strives to meet its climate targets, the world watches closely, anticipating further developments in its transition to cleaner energy sources.
