Tausi Insider

Cold weather could lead to power cuts in France on Monday as delays to the restart of nuclear power following repair work leave supply lagging demand, analysts said. Nuclear power supply had been expected to reach around 40 gigawatts (GW) this week, but operator EDF’s delay in restarting reactors meant it rose to only around 35 GW, leaving France more reliant on imports and gas-fired production. Refinitiv analyst Nathalie Gerl said the situation as a cold spell grips northwestern Europe this weekend and next week would be “much more critical” but for efforts to curb demand, especially by big industrial consumers. There was still a risk of a shortfall just on Monday, she said. “If we remain at 35 GW, next week Monday could become quite tight: we expect the demand at otherwise seasonally normal levels, but 35 GW of nuclear would be too low to meet a possible demand peak at 73 GW,” Gerl said. The current EDF schedule shows 3 GW of nuclear power returning to the grid next week, putting t...

A report by Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator concluded that creating a net-zero grid by mid-century would nearly triple annual costs to roughly $60-billion, compared to $20-billion today. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press An emissions-free electrical grid in Ontario – one that could support mass adoption of electric cars and heat pumps – would cost three times more each year than what the province pays today, the body that co-ordinates the province’s electricity system said Thursday. In a report responding to questions from Minister of Energy Todd Smith concerning the future of Ontario’s grid, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) concluded that accomplishing a net-zero grid by mid-century would require approximately $400-billion in new infrastructure, not to mention lots of land. The annual costs would be roughly $60-billion, as compared to $20-billion today. The amount of electricity produced would double, displacing use of gasoline, natural gas an...