National measures for international objectives

National measures for international objectives

17 sustainable development goals have been established to meet international challenges. These are interconnected and concern inequalities, peace, justice, etc. as well as the degradation of the environment and climate. These last two points concern the energy market.

At European level, a Green Deal, the “Green Deal”, is validated by the President of the European Commission Ursula Van Der Leyen. The roadmap announces in particular a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with the strategy of maximizing the value of energy from renewable sources.

To meet these international and European directives, the Ministry for the Ecological and Solidarity Transition has developed a Multi-Year Energy Program (PPE). It forms the basis of the French energy future and focuses on more sober and more efficient energy. What are the priorities for action?

“Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% between 1990 and 2030;

Significantly reduce final energy consumption (-20% in 2030) and in particular the consumption of fossil fuels (-40% in 2030);

Increase the share of renewable energies to 33% of gross final energy consumption in 2030;

Reduce the share of nuclear power in electricity production to 50% by 2035. "

FYI: The objectives will be delayed. The health crisis that the beginning of 2020 is experiencing blocked all projects concerning renewable energies. This point will be part of our next article

The goal of the PPE is to become carbon neutral by 2050. On paper, everything is fine. But that does not make them achievable goals for everyone in the energy world. Why ?

Uncompromising actors

A completely carbon-free energy mix is ​​a feasible goal if we want to return to the "middle-aged era" according to a carbon specialist, not to mention it. So that our lifestyles are not completely disrupted, we must find the necessary technologies to meet our energy needs and the consumption balance that we must have. And these technologies also come at a cost. Both human and financial.

Nuclear power producers are not in favor of this change either. 6 EPRs are under construction, despite the problems on the sites as well as the delays of several years caused. In addition, the nuclear industry is looking, in its Aix laboratory, for a method to use fusion instead of fission. With this process, there would be no more problem of waste treatment and then this energy would be much less polluting and emitting little CO2.

Fossil energy producers and suppliers would also have a lot to lose. The use of fossils is simple and inexpensive (and the fall in current prices only makes them more attractive), it allows electricity to be produced directly and consumed instantly, the balance between electricity production and consumption is then controlled by France.

They are not the only players who are reluctant to face the paradigm shift that we are going through. These latter actors are influenced by the "political" aspect of energies. Other players, both legal and physical, are reluctant to say that renewable energies would be as much, if not more, destructive of the environment

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