News | Headlines
EDF shifts nuclear strategy to domestic projects
France Nuclear power France’s state-run utility EDF is planning to reduce its overseas sales workforce by 60 positions including 10 in management, and withdraw from certain international nuclear projects to concentrate on a domestic construction programme under its new CEO Bernard Fontana, as reported by Reuters. France is retreating from its position as a global leader in nuclear power, amid rising global demand, allowing new competitors to emerge as high costs and design challenges hinder its international competitiveness. M. Fontana aims to accelerate the
modernisation of France’s nuclear fleet, expressing a commitment to focus on domestic projects rather than the international operations that have previously included reactor construction in China, Finland and Britain. Recent changes include focusing on tenders in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, while deprioritising projects in Poland, India and Canada. This shift is expected to cut costs and reallocate resources to higher-priority initiatives. EDF’s recent international projects have experienced significant delays and cost overruns. In 2024, it lost a bid for two new reactors in the Czech Republic to South Korea’s KHNP.
The French government identifies the new French nuclear programme as a priority. President Emmanuel Macron announced plans in early 2022 for six new reactors to replace ageing plants, with projected costs of €67bn ($78.7bn). But the company is indebted owing to costly repairs made to its nuclear fleet in recent years. EDF is considering the sale of certain renewable energy assets in North America and Brazil.
EDF subsidiaries Framatome and Arabelle, which manufacture reactor components, will continue to pursue international contracts, including the AP1000 project in Poland
India’s government eases sulphur emissions rules
India Emissions control The Indian government has announced a relaxation of the 2015 mandate for installing flue-gas desulphurisation systems in coal-fired power plants, reports the Economic Times. This move is expected to reduce electricity costs by Rs 0.25 ($0.0029) to Rs 0.30 per unit. The decision follows a comprehensive analysis by the Central Pollution Control Board, which found evidence of increased carbon dioxide emissions from the operation of existing control measures, prompting a re-evaluation of the FGD installation requirement.
The new rules will apply only to plants within 10 km of cities with populations of more than one million, while other sites will be exempt. The exemption will apply to nearly 79% of India’s thermal power capacity, with plants in critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities to be evaluated individually. The differentiated compliance approach is based on the proximity to urban populations and the
sulphur content of the coal used. The framework for this policy change was established after research conducted by institutions such as IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI, and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) showed that ambient sulphur dioxide levels in most parts of India are within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. These studies revealed that the levels of sulphur oxides range from three to 20 microgrammes per cubic metre, well below the NAAQS limit of 80 microgrammes per cubic metre. This has raised questions about the benefits of universally mandating FGD systems in India, where coal has a relatively low sulphur content of less than 0.5%.
The NIAS study highlighted potential environmental drawbacks, including an
additional 69 million tonnes (mt) of CO2 emissions from 2025 to 2030 owing to the activities associated with FGD systems such as limestone mining and transportation.
The anticipated reduction in electricity costs is expected to benefit consumers directly. This cost-saving measure is particularly significant in a high-demand, cost-sensitive market like India, where it could help state electricity distribution companies contain tariffs and reduce government subsidies.
The financial implications of mandatory FGD retrofitting were substantial, previously estimated at over Rs2.5tn ($29.1bn), equating to Rs120m per MW, with installation timelines extending up to 45 days per unit. India’s electricity demand is projected to triple by 2050, driven by increased vehicle usage and air conditioning take-up. Concurrently, India is focusing on meeting its growing electricity demand through renewable energy sources. A report from the Rocky Mountain Institute outlines India’s approach to harnessing clean energy while addressing affordability, job creation, domestic production, and competitiveness.
Industrial emissions in Germany halved by ETS
Germany Emissions control Emissions from Germany’s industry and energy sectors have almost halved since the introduction of the European Emissions Trading System 20 years ago, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has announced. During that time, Germany saw a 47 % drop in emissions from energy-intensive industries and the energy sector. Across Europe, ETS emissions have fallen by 51 % during the same period, reports online agency Clean Energy Wire.
“Since its introduction, emissions trading has gradually developed into the central
climate protection instrument in Germany and Europe,” said UBA head Dirk Messner. The energy sector has driven the emissions decline in Germany, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 54 % since 2005. UBA attributes this recent progress to the growing share of renewable energies, the decline in electricity generation from coal and lignite, and the increase in net electricity imports from other countries.
“Embedded in an effective mix of [financial] instruments, emissions trading will make a significant contribution to achieving the legal climate targets of Germany and the EU,” said
4 | July/August 2025 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
by requiring emitters to buy or receive allowances corresponding to their emissions, thus making the combustion of fossil fuels more expensive. The EU sets a cap on how much CO2
Daniel Klingenfeld, who heads the emissions trading authority division at the UBA. The ETS market mechanism creates an incentive to reduce CO2
can be emitted, and
reduces the maximum amount each year. Emissions from internal European air transport and maritime transport were added to the ETS in 2012 and 2024 respectively. A reformed ‘ETS 2’ will cover the entire heating and transport sector by 2027.
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