At 31 December 2021, the thermal generation facilities operated by EDF were of different types, both in terms of fuel and power:
| Net energy output (in TWh) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Unit capacity (in MW) | Number of units in operation at 31/12/2021 | Total capacity (in MW) | Year commissioned | At 31/12/2021 | At 31/12/2020 |
| Coal-fired | 580 | 2 | 1,160 | in 1983 and 1984 | 3.01 | 1.04 |
| Fuel oil and dual-fuel combustion turbines (gas and fuel oil) |
85 | 4 | 340 | in 1980 and 1981 | 0.34 | 0.46 |
| 203 | 1 | 203 | in 1992 | |||
| 134 | 1 | 134 | in 1996 | |||
| 125 – 129 | 2 | 254 | in 1998 and 2007 | |||
| 185 | 2 | 370 | in 2010 | |||
| 179 – 182 | 3 | 542 | in 2008 and 2009 | |||
| Combined Cycle Gas Turbine | 427 | 1 | 427 | in 2011 | 7.17 | 7.35 |
| 465 | 2 | 930 | in 2012 and 2013 | |||
| 585 | 1 | 585 | in 2016 | |||
EDF’s electricity generation from its thermal power plants in mainland France represented approximately 2.55% of its total electricity generation in 2021. By end 2021, this fleet had a total installed operating capacity of 4,945MW.
Thermal generation (net energy) in 2020 amounted to 10.53 TWh in 2021, a higher level of operation than in 2020 (8.85 TWh). In 2021, coal units supplied 3.01 TWh, CCGT plants 7.17 TWh and combustion turbines 0.34 TWh.
The priority for these thermal means of generation required on a variable basis all year round is to ensure maximum reliability and availability. As in previous years, the reliability of the thermal fleet was confirmed in 2021. It is commensurate with European standards for CCGTs and combustion turbines, excluding specific technical contingencies. The fleet’s adaptability to a sustained level of operation was demonstrated. In particular, combustion turbines were in high demand and had a very good response rate when called into operation.
Between 2013 and 2015, EDF permanently shut down ten coal-fired generation units.
Between 2014 and 2016, it renovated the three newer technology production units located in Le Havre (1 unit) and Cordemais (2 units) to improve their reliability and efficiency.
EDF proceeded to shut down the Le Havre power plant on 1 April 2021. However, RTE’s most recent provisional review reveals the need to maintain production at the Cordemais power plant until 2024, or perhaps even 2026, so as to maintain balance between demand and supply. In July 2021, EDF announced that it was halting the Ecocombust project, which aimed to develop green fuel (biomass) by recycling wood waste.
In 2021, EDF’s thermal power plants in mainland France emitted 5.70 million tonnes of CO2 (4.05 million tonnes in 2020). The CO2 content per kWh generated by EDF’s thermal power plants in mainland France in 2021 is 535 g/kWh net (449 g/kWh net in 2020 (1)). This rise in the CO2 component is the result of a higher proportion of coal units in EDF’s thermal generation mix. These accounted for some29% of thermal generation fleet output in 2021 (compared to 12% in 2020). It is to be noted that in 2010, the CO2 content per kWh generated more than 900 g CO2/kWh net.
In 2021, EDF’s thermal generation fleet in mainland France also emitted 2.08 kt of SO2, 3.90 kt of NOx and 0.03 kt of dust. Per kWh generated, polluting emissions have fallen compared with 2010 by four times for NOx, by over fourteen times for SO2 and by over forty-two times for dust.
These drastic reductions in emissions were made possible by the shutdown of the oldest thermal plants, the renovation and installation of smoke treatment equipment using the best techniques available at the most recent plants, the use of low sulphur fuel and the commissioning of natural gas combined cycle turbines.
Cordemais units are thus equipped with flue gas desulphurisation and denitrification systems (90% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions and 80%reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions) as well as dust collectors that trap almost all dust.
(1) This indicator is calculated by comparing CO2 emissions to net energy in operation (including self-consumption by auxiliary unit systems).
