Key facts
- France plans a nationwide power outage simulation.
- The simulation is scheduled for the second half of 2027.
- It will be a tabletop exercise.
- The goal is to test the country's response to a sudden, widespread electricity blackout.
- The simulation will consider scenarios similar to incidents in Spain and Portugal.
- It will also test responses to a major cyberattack on the grid.
France is set to conduct a nationwide power outage simulation during the second half of 2027. The exercise, described as a tabletop simulation, is designed to evaluate the country's preparedness for a sudden and extensive electricity blackout. This initiative aims to bolster the nation's response capabilities in the face of potential disruptions. The simulation will specifically test how France would manage a crisis akin to the blackouts that affected Spain and Portugal. Furthermore, it will assess the country's resilience against a major cyberattack that could cripple the national electricity grid. The planning for this exercise underscores a growing concern about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to widespread power failures and cyber threats.