Legislative Elections: What Energy Program for the Renaissance Party?

In what promises to be a historic turning point in French politics, the Renaissance Party has unveiled its energy program. In line with President Emmanuel Macron’s energy policy, the presidential party is trying to convince voters with a program for French nuclear energy and renewable energy sources.

Ambitious nuclear program

The Renaissance Party, in line with President Macron’s energy policy, unveils an energy plan that puts nuclear energy at the center of France’s decarbonization strategy. This program includes the creation of 14 new nuclear reactors, divided into two phases. The first assumes the construction of six EPR2 reactors, and the second adds eight more. This initiative aims to guarantee stable, low-emission energy production.

The party also proposes extending the life of existing nuclear reactors as long as they meet safety standards. This will ensure that all current reactors will continue to operate reliably. SMR development is also planned to provide greater flexibility and lower implementation costs.

The main pillar of this program is innovation, which includes significant investments in research and development of new nuclear technologies, including fuel recycling and radioactive waste management.

Nuclear energy is an essential element in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring low-emission energy production. A vision undoubtedly propagated by the Renaissance. The president’s visit to Flamanville EPR last May was a key step in France’s energy transformation.

“Nuclear Europe”: a vision of the future

During his speech at the Sorbonne in April, Macron also called for building a “Europe of the atom.” However, this vision faces divisions within the EU itself, between pro-nuclear states such as France and so-called anti-nuclear states such as Germany. For the head of state, the most important thing is the production of decarbonized electricity, whether nuclear or renewable. He also stressed the importance of electricity connections in Europe, which aim to create an integrated and resilient decarbonized electricity market.

Focus on renewable energy sources

Renaissance does not only promote nuclear energy. The party also places great emphasis on renewable energies. It proposes to increase the availability of environmentally friendly vehicles by introducing 100,000 electric vehicles per year for rent for 100 euros per month. This measure is effective from 1 January 2024 and will be extended to 2025. In addition, a fund for the energy renovation of buildings has been created to renovate 300,000 homes by 2027, focusing primarily on those presented as “heat guzzlers”.

The program also includes a significant expansion of offshore wind energy through tenders, equity investments or EIB (European Investment Bank), with the goal of achieving a capacity of 18 GW by 2035, as well as doubling the rate of use of photovoltaic solar energy to 75 GW. The Saint-Nazaire wind farm in the Loire-Atlantique region is scheduled to open in 2022.

Despite initial reluctance, Renaissance plans to maintain and double its onshore wind capacity to 40 GW by 2035, including efforts to replace older wind turbines with more efficient models. The ambition to increase biogas production fivefold by 2030 to 50 TWh was also highlighted, which places biogas as a key element of the energy mix.

Despite the reopening of the coal-fired power plant in Saint-Avold in the Moselle department, the party strongly supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 and by 20% by 2027, also taking into account the goals set out in the Paris Accords.

Hydrogen and hydropower

The Renaissance hydrogen program aims to invest in the production of green hydrogen, and ultimately by 2030 it is to reach 6.5 GW of electrolysis capacity. This project is part of the France 2030 plan, which aims to position France as a global leader in hydrogen. In this context, France has developed a low-carbon hydrogen strategy with financing of €7 billion, to which almost €2 billion will be added under the France 2030 initiative to accelerate its implementation. The development of hydrogen-powered vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks and trains, is also planned.

In the field of hydropower, the party plans to modernize and increase the efficiency of existing infrastructure. Projects are planned to renovate and expand the dam to improve efficiency and energy production.

Social and economic implications

On the social front, Renaissance proposes to help companies invest in green technologies and adopt more sustainable practices. The measure includes subsidies for renewable energy and low-emission hydrogen projects. The party also proposes simplifying administrative procedures for SMEs, encouraging innovation and initiative, and reducing employer contributions to wages above the minimum wage to encourage wage increases without increasing costs for companies.

The Presidential Party also plans to reduce electricity bills by 10-15% from February 2025 in response to the increase in energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine. A flagship action promised by the French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Bruno Le Maire, and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

“200 euros less (…) thanks to the reform of the European electricity market that we achieved.”

Added to this is the Prime Minister’s announcement of a budget of €40 billion for green planning until 2024. This funding aims to support various initiatives such as the simplification of DPE (Diagnostic Energy Efficiency) and access to MaPrimeRénov assistance, launched in January 2020, to encourage the thermal renovation of buildings. These measures, which are part of a broader program, aim to accelerate the country’s green transformation while stimulating economic growth and jobs in green sectors.

Contradictions and challenges

Despite an ambitious energy program, Renaissance faces many contradictions and challenges. Reactivating the Saint-Avold coal-fired power plant to meet France’s energy needs undermines the party’s commitment to abandon fossil fuels once and for all. Moreover, the rapid development of renewable energy sources, while encouraging, may face regulatory hurdles and local resistance, especially in the case of onshore and offshore wind energy. The massive investments needed for the energy transition could strain public finances and require strong private partnerships.

Moreover, achieving these goals will depend largely on technological progress and innovation, which may not keep pace with expectations. Modernization and adaptation of existing infrastructure to integrate new energy sources also constitutes a major technical and logistical challenge. In turn, the construction of new nuclear reactors, although planned, is based on technology that is expensive in the long run and carries risks related to nuclear waste and safety. A measure that could also highlight France’s energy dependence on nuclear energy, threatened by the growth of fusion projects.

The Renaissance energy program presents an ambitious vision for France’s energy future. By focusing on nuclear energy and renewable energy sources, the presidential party intends to meet growing energy needs while drastically reducing CO2 emissions. By investing in innovation and infrastructure, Renaissance aims to position France as a global leader in the energy transition. This plan promises significant economic and social benefits while ensuring sustainable and sovereign energy for future generations, although there are significant challenges and contradictions. Nevertheless, Renaissance’s energy ambitions are still shared by the center-right Horizon party, founded by former prime minister and current mayor of Le Havre, Édouard Philippe.