Which electricity system for France in 2050?

This publication proposes a synthesis of interventions of a seminar organised by the ADEME which notably addressed the content of an ADEME study on the possibility to reach an energy mix made of 100 per cent of renewable energies, and the critics made even before the publication of this study. A first contribution recalls the objectives, approach, and methodology adopted for this study, and consultants hired to perform it. It also recalls the main hypotheses which related to estimated demand, interconnection, sources of renewable energy, cost of technologies, and variations. The obtained results are commented in terms of possible mixes (15 possible mixes), of relationship between electricity cost and proportion of renewable energies, necessity of flexibility and storage, and complementarity between renewable energies. A second contribution (made by a member of 'Sauvons le Climat' which criticised the ADEME study) proposes an overview of critics: left out criteria, unrealistic consumption predictions, a not very convincing management of intermittency, an increased risk of load-shedding and black-out, and under-assessed costs. A third contribution proposes reflections on technological and organisational innovation which could result in an energy mix with a major renewable component, but with a remaining nuclear component. Debates are reported which addressed some issues such as batteries versus chemical storage, from a model to a road-map, the actualisation cost, the negative price of electricity, the German example, a global approach to the energy mix