French Gas Grids 'Can Handle This Winter'
France’s two main gas grid operators presented their 2016/17 Winter Outlook on November 22. It’s the first time that the report has been jointly produced by GRTgaz and its smaller counterpart TIGF.
GRTgaz CEO Thierry Trouve and TIGF chief Dominique Mockly do not anticipate any particular problems over the coming winter, based on the two operators’ provisional operating conditions and factoring in the network entry capacities and storage fill levels at the end of the injection campaign.
GRTgaz CEO Thierry Trouve (Photo credit: GRTgaz)
In the event of a cold snap, existing infrastructure should enable suppliers to cover French gas use with an excess of 680 GWh/d (63.2mn m3/d).
Since the start of November 2016, record levels of demand have been placed upon the gas-fired power plants to support the electricity network – with power in excess of 6.5 GW regularly required, peaks in excess of 8.5 GW, and a level of 514 GWh of daily consumption on November 7 specifically, the two gas grid operators said.
France can also rely on the increased fluidity of the gas network resulting from a policy of sustained investment over the past decade, they added.
GRTgaz and TIGF stated that as France “approaches a tricky winter for the electricity network, the gas network is demonstrating its key role in the security and continuity of France’s energy supply.” They called on suppliers to demonstrate “optimised and diversified management of supplies” in order to maintain sufficient withdrawal capacities throughout the winter.
GRTgaz is 75%-owned by French utility Engie and 25% by French public pension and savings funds CNR and Caisse des Depots. TIGF is owned by Italian grid Snam (40.5%), Singapore state GIC (31.5%), EDF's nuclear liabilities fund (18%) and since early 2015 French bank Credit Agricole (10%).
Mark Smedley