France Is 2nd In Europe For Producing Renewable Energy (Y079)

FRANCE IS 2ND IN EUROPE FOR PRODUCING RENEWABLE ENERGY

[USPRwire, Sat Sep 06 2008] The fight against global warming is the main priority for the French EU presidency, as determined by the French government during the Grenelle Environment Round Table. Energy control and the development of renewable energy in France have been the cornerstone of a sector with revenues reaching EUR 33 billion in 2007 and 220,000 jobs created, according to the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). The EU objectives, established in March 2007, fixed a target for renewable energy sources to comprise 20% of total primary energy consumption by 2020.

France’s electricity production from sustainable sources was estimated at 12% of total domestic consumption in 2006, according to the France's Energy Observatory (Observatoire d’Energie). Hydraulic power remained the leading source, accounting for approximately 91% of total electricity production. Electricity produced by wind power doubled to 3.5%. Wood energy remains stable at 2.3%. Solar photovoltaic and thermal energy are increasing rapidly: the capacity of solar collectors connected to the grid doubled in 2006 according to ADEME (6,100 KWC compared with 3,075 in 2005). Energy from urban waste recycling accounts for 2.5%. The production of geothermal energy is due to develop soon in response to the continual increase in the cost of fossil fuels used for domestic heating. Also included is energy from heat pumps and also agricultural waste as well as biomass sources.

Sustained industrial activity supports equipment efforts, particularly for the photovoltaic and wind power industries. This is driven mainly by EDF New Energy (Energies Nouvelles) and numerous small investors. In an effort to meet environmental challenges within the economy, the French government has launched its Ecotech 2012 plan, entrusted to the Eco-industry Strategic Committee.

Foreign companies with renewable energy operations in France include: (for wind parks) Gamesa (Spain), Vestas (Denmark), General Electric (USA); (for wind energy and photovoltaic systems) AS Solar (Germany), SMA (Germany), HaWi Energies Renouvelables (Germany), Silpro (Netherlands), Photowatt (Canada), and Apex BP Solar (United Kingdom).

France actively supports this sector by encouraging households and companies to install energy saving equipment and use energy from renewable sources, by offering a tax credit enabling up to 50% of the equipment investment to be recovered. Twelve regions in France have clusters dedicated to energy sources.

Philippe Favre, President of the Invest in France Agency, says, "France is the location of choice for these kinds of industries: the tariff buyback program is one of the most attractive in Europe and France has high-skilled labour in the electricity network domain and significant potential in wind power. Thanks to the ambitious program of the next 12 years, there are great opportunities for sustainable energy in France."


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