Nuclear-reliant Paris has already irked Berlin by insisting on giving nuclear energy a starring role in European plans to produce more green technology in Europe.
“Nuclear power is an absolute red line for France, and France will not relinquish any of the competitive advantages linked to nuclear energy”, Le Maire insisted as he closed the annual conference of the French Electricity Union.
France’s 56 ageing reactors normally provide some 70% of France’s electricity needs.
“French nuclear power is non-negotiable and will never be negotiable. We will have to live with it, and we are convinced that it is not only in France’s interest, but also in the interest of the European continent”, he added.
In April, Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and the sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline.
Germany’s economy shrank more than expected in the fourth quarter according to revised figures, raising doubts over the ability of Europe’s biggest economy to escape recession and recover.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
Wowee! for once I can agree with the french. WE in UK have plenty Oil, gas, coal and S T I L L HOT Air: guess what is non-negotiable in the UK. Meanwhile in Schleswig Holstein, they were having one of those windsurfing competitions – called off = NO WIND , so if WINDPOWER is to be used for Power generation over there, were they saying that there was no surplus for the Sport?
Europe cannot reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 unless it embraces nuclear power, the chief executive of Rolls-Royce has said.
Tufan Erginbilgic claimed that new small reactors of the sort being developed by his company would play a pivotal role in helping to decarbonise electricity grids across the continent.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show, he said: “I’m not sure, without nuclear, Europe can go to a net zero world. SMR [small modular reactors], frankly, relative to the traditional nuclear power plant, has lots of advantages, because it is much smaller. And therefore the risk profile is much smaller.”
Mr Erginbilgic’s comments come against a backdrop of division within the European Union over how to approach nuclear power.
Some members, such as Germany and Denmark, have a more circumspect approach to nuclear and want more wind and solar sources. Others, including France, are keen to push ahead with the development of new nuclear power.
In February, Mr Erginbilgic warned that Britain risks squandering its role as a leader in mini-nuclear reactor technology if ministers failed to support its SMRs.
Rolls-Royce is competing with dozens of other companies. It has ambitions to eventually build about 30 SMRs, each with a capacity of about 470 megawatts, which will supply millions of homes and businesses with clean electricity.
Hmm, Talbloke, I wonder whether stuff like this is behind it all https://drivesncontrols.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/7385/Safety_boss_warns_of__91far-reaching_92_effects_of_EU_legislation_on_industry.html 11 fn Safe Tea, perhaps.
Reblogged this on Climate Collections.