France is solidifying its reliance on nuclear power generation and accelerating energy storage deployment to bolster grid stability, while scaling up interconnections with neighbors. As variable renewables scale, the true resilience test that the country faces is whether storage, flexibility, and backup options are ready, and whether markets and regulation reward capacity that can respond instantly, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
GlobalData's latest report, "France Power Market Trends and Analysis by Capacity, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Regulations, Key Players and Forecast to 2035," reveals that nuclear power capacity is expected to remain in the range of 61-63GW during 2025-35, with incremental growth driven by reactor upgrades and life extensions. Renewables, particularly solar PV and wind, are set to nearly double in capacity by 2035, but variability in their output heightens the need for flexible resources.
Attaurrahman Ojindaram Saibasan, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "France should strengthen market mechanisms so that flexibility and dispatchability are properly rewarded through capacity payments, ancillary services, and stable contracts for storage and backup power. The country also needs to streamline permitting for storage, maintain pumped hydro infrastructure, speed up battery deployment, and establish clear regulatory pathways and investment support for small modular reactors (SMRs)."
Large hydropower and pumped storage are emerging as critical flexibility enablers, helping smooth daily and seasonal fluctuations from renewables. Battery storage systems are growing in importance for short-duration shifts (hours to sub-hour response), including frequency regulation and evening peaks. Gas-fired thermal plants, though declining in overall generation share, are still important as fast-ramp backup, particularly when nuclear or hydro assets undergo maintenance or during extended low renewable periods.
