France lets RTE build grid capacity for Fos-Lavéra industry before requests are final
Victoria Shinder2 min readFrance's energy regulator CRE has approved a proposal by transmission operator RTE to anticipate and pool the grid works needed to connect industrial consumers in the Fos-Lavéra zone in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
The tool. French energy law allows RTE, with CRE's authorisation, to anticipate connection needs in a zone and the works associated with them, rather than building connection by connection. CRE frames this against the electrification and decarbonisation of industry, where the speed and efficiency of grid connections are strategic for reaching carbon neutrality and supporting industrial development.
What is authorised. The decision allows the anticipated construction of a set of assets creating 2,500 MW of hosting capacity in the Fos-Lavéra zone from 2029. CRE notes that RTE's approach will make part of that capacity available earlier, from this year. Because of the large number of connection requests, and in line with the doctrine in RTE's ten-year network development plan (SDDR), the works will start without delay.
Who pays. Industrial users that connect will pay a share of the cost of these works, which CRE sets at 116.06 euros per MW as stated in its announcement. The pooled approach spreads the cost of the shared assets across the users who take up the capacity rather than charging the first applicant for the whole reinforcement.
Why it matters beyond Fos. Anticipated, pooled connection works shift the risk of building ahead of demand from individual projects to the network operator, under regulatory control. For industrial sites waiting for a grid connection to electrify processes, the timing of that capacity is often the deciding factor, and Fos-Lavéra is a test of how far France is willing to build first.
Source: CRE, "La CRE valide l'anticipation et la mutualisation des travaux de raccordement des consommateurs de la zone de Fos-Lavéra" — https://www.cre.fr/actualites/toute-lactualite/la-cre-valide-lanticipation-et-la-mutualisation-des-travaux-de-raccordement-des-consommateurs-de-la-zone-de-fos-lavera.html