Renewable energies (RES) are at a pivotal moment. In a tense political and budgetary context, where decarbonization targets are sometimes called into question and electricity demand has stagnated since 2022, RES face recurring criticism—whether through public statements or challenges to their economic models.

Among these criticisms, those targeting renewable electricity—particularly wind and solar—are the most frequent. Labeled as “intermittent,” they are accused of destabilizing the grid, producing mainly when consumption is low, and adding no real value to the French energy system.

Yet, the development of flexible solutions is key to fully harnessing the potential of RES. These solutions address challenges related to production management, cost control, supply security, and decarbonization of end uses—an evolution that will necessarily involve increased consumption of decarbonized electricity and heat.

This transition requires strong commitment: RES producers must continue to innovate to improve integration mechanisms. This means developing new storage solutions, strengthening participation in system services and grid balancing, creating synergies between energy vectors, and promoting more flexible uses. These efforts aim to provide concrete answers to technical challenges while asserting in public debate that the combination of RES and flexibility is France’s best energy asset for the years ahead.