France pilots local electricity flexibility as EU pushes broader grid interconnections

French electricity grid operators Enedis and RTE are launching a joint experimental platform called the "Portail Flexibilités" to digitally procure flexibility services for local network constraints. The experiment, approved by the energy regulator CRE, will run for at least two years in the departments of Ariège, Aude, Gard, Hérault, Landes, Pyrénées‑Atlantiques, Hautes‑Pyrénées and Pyrénées‑Orientales, with rules expected to take effect in mid‑September 2026.

At the same time, the European Commission has presented a "Network Package" that would centralise planning of cross‑border interconnections and set a target of 15 % of peak demand in interconnection capacity by 2030. The proposal aims to increase France’s import‑export capacity by up to 40 % through new links with Germany and Spain, but France and Sweden have voiced strong opposition, citing risks to national grid stability, nuclear plant operation and market dynamics. Decisions on the package are scheduled for the spring.