UK tipped to export even more energy to France despite blackout fears

And the Financial Times reports that the plunging production levels could wipe €29billon off EDF’s core profits this year due its purchasing of supplies on wholesale markets. Jean-Paul Harreman of energy consultancy EnAppSys, told the publication: “It’s absolutely crucial that EDF get their act together and that the nuclear capacity gets back online.”

In the meantime, the UK may have to come to Paris’ aid. Last week, it already provided a helping hand when it approved a request from EDF to slash its exports to the UK in half, coinciding with an order from National Grid to put two coal-fired power units at the Drax power plant on standby.

Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy, Climate and Intelligence Unit, told Express.co.uk that France’s nuclear issues will in fact mean that it might have to request more imports from Britain, despite usually supplying more power to the UK. 

He said: “There’s less nuclear available on the continent, and so they’ll have less for us to import and they’ll be looking for more UK exports.” 

However, the UK has already been exporting some energy to France to help out, with nuclear issues first having surfaced in April. Katheryn Porter, an energy consultant from Watt Logic previously told Express.co.uk: “Both countries may seek to rely on imports to meet demand this winter. Since the problems with some French nuclear reactors were identified in April, Britain has consistently exported to France, while importing from Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands.” 

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1711900/uk-energy-france-nuclear-blackout-edf