COGENERATION BY GAS-ENGINES OR TURBINES - FRENCH PROSPECTS - GAZ DE FRANCES POLICY

Until 1991, cogeneration was less widely used in France than in other developed countries. This was mainly due to the French nuclear program. This situation is now changing in view of the main parties involved evolution : support from the authorities in the form of incentives, Electricite de France's neutrality with regard to cogeneration projects and Gaz de France's willingness to develop cogeneration, which was demonstrated by the formation of an ad hoc team. In the last two years, over twenty five projects were approved in France and the amount of electricity produced using cogeneration by gas engines or turbines is expected to double within the next five years and reach around 3 TWh per year at the end of the century.