Nuclear and intermittent renewables: Two compatible supply options? The case of the French power mix

Camille Cany, Christine Mansilla, Pascal Da Costa (), Gilles Mathonnière, Thierry Duquesnoy and Anne Baschwitz

Energy Policy, 2016, vol. 95, issue C, 135-146

Abstract: The complementary features of low-carbon power sources are a central issue in designing energy transition policies. The French current electricity mix is characterised by a high share of nuclear power which equalled 76% of the total electric production in 2015. With the increase in intermittent renewable sources, nuclear flexibility is examined as part of the solution to balance electricity supply and demand. Our proposed methodology involves designing scenarios with nuclear and intermittent renewable penetration levels, and developing residual load duration curves in each case. The load modulation impact on the nuclear production cost is estimated.

Keywords: Nuclear power flexibility; Intermittent renewable energy sources; Power system economics; Back-up; Low-carbon source synergy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:95:y:2016:i:c:p:135-146

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.037

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