In 2025 France exported 31TWh to Germany and Belgium and imported 4TWh.
I would say the issue with nuclear is that it cannot follow load changes quickly and therefore needs other sources to compensate peaks.
There has been a time a few years ago with maintenance issues you are right. However right now it is available at 85% which is a high score. In comparison today, a cloudy day, only 14-20% of solar and wind renewables are producing power.
Yes, nuclear reactors can’t do load balancing. However they can neither meet basic demand when they have to be stopped because of a lack of coolant or for repairs.
In 2025 France exported 31TWh to Germany and Belgium and imported 4TWh. I would say the issue with nuclear is that it cannot follow load changes quickly and therefore needs other sources to compensate peaks. There has been a time a few years ago with maintenance issues you are right. However right now it is available at 85% which is a high score. In comparison today, a cloudy day, only 14-20% of solar and wind renewables are producing power.
Availability values here: https://analysesetdonnees.rte-france.com/en/generation/generation-availability
Yes, nuclear reactors can’t do load balancing. However they can neither meet basic demand when they have to be stopped because of a lack of coolant or for repairs.