The French electricity transmission network (RTE), has just announced a project of 33 billion euros over 15 years. A colossal work due in part to clean energies.
France will considerably strengthen its network of high voltage lines. RTE (the Network of Electric Transport) announces 33 billion euros of investments in the next 15 years.
It is considerable! To give an idea, it's twice the Tunnel under the Channel, or 1,000 euros per household! Even if - I assure you - for the consumer, this investment will be amortized over a long period, so not visible on the bill, about 12 euros per year.
Why such work on our electricity network which is already the longest in Europe?
Because more is needed because of clean energies. We often have the romantic vision of clean energies. We would have his vegetable garden to grow his vegetables and solar panels, to consume his electricity ... all this independently. It's not at all like that! Because we want electricity day and night, 365 days a year, even when there is no sun, or no wind. And so, to ensure this permanent service, while the production of electricity will become random, we will have to be able to get electricity very far.
There is no sun in Brittany? No problem, we will seek electricity in Alsace or wind turbines, run at full speed. This new organization requires a considerable increase in the electricity network, including with foreigners elsewhere. Because sometimes, it will be necessary to go to seek electricity until Bavaria or Andalusia.
But France will be disfigured, with all these new high voltage lines?
No, we will bury the new lines as much as possible and reinforce the existing lines. RTE even promises (eventually) a smaller visual footprint. But yes, clean electricity means an ultra connected network ... with green electrons that roam everywhere in Europe, the sandstone of the wind and the sun. It's beautiful !