Electrifying to decarbonise: what is changing in power system operation

On 21 July 2026, RTE published an overview of the transformation of French power system operation, driven by the combined effect of renewables, changing energy uses and the intensification of European trade.

Operating the grid means maintaining the balance between generation and consumption, monitoring the main electrical parameters — frequency, voltage, current — preventing major incidents and anticipating possible situations so that resources are available at the right time.

The landscape is changing rapidly. Renewable energy is being deployed on a large scale, new users are connecting — data centres, storage installations, new industries — and energy uses are electrifying: electric vehicles, heating, industrial processes, digital technology.

A growing share of generation now depends on weather conditions. Volumes generated can vary rapidly, and may even exceed the needs of the moment. Balancing requirements are increasing and demand close coordination with all players, including renewable generators.

To ensure the system functions properly, certain generation assets have to be reduced, shut down or restarted more frequently. This constraint is also an opportunity: it supports the electrification of energy uses and decarbonisation.

In this context, an industrial site's ability to shift its consumption becomes a resource for the system as much as a lever for competitiveness.