France’s state utility EDF says the rapid growth of solar and wind is forcing its nuclear reactors to ramp up and down more often, accelerating wear on turbines, pumps, and other equipment. Nuclear modulation has roughly doubled since 2019, and the company warns that added flexibility is translating into higher maintenance bills across its fleet.

With electricity demand still soft and renewable output rising, France is facing a power surplus that’s pushing prices down but complicating plans to finance new reactors. EDF estimates equipment upgrades and added maintenance could cost hundreds of millions of euros over time, underscoring the tension between expanding renewables and maintaining a large nuclear backbone.