EDF mulls stake sale for North American and Brazilian renewables

French utility Electricité de France (EDF) is exploring options to attract capital for its North American and Brazilian renewables divisions, including the potential sale of stakes of up to 50%.

An EDF spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday 16 July 2025 that the company is considering various ways to bring in capital, as reported by Reuters.

The EDF power solutions spokesperson stated: “We are studying the possibility of opening the capital of some of our subsidiaries to partners.”

The announcement follows a Bloomberg report which suggested that a stake sale in EDF’s North American operations might generate €2bn ($2.32bn).

EDF CEO Bernard Fontana is seeking financing to support the construction of six new nuclear reactors as well as renewable projects in France to decrease the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

He has indicated that asset sales are under consideration as one potential route for raising necessary funds.

Fontana has previously expressed his commitment before lawmakers towards prioritising domestic nuclear projects.

With France relying heavily on an ageing fleet of 57 nuclear reactors for electricity production, there is a pressing need to strengthen long-term power generation capabilities.

EDF has been searching for external funding sources for two major UK-based nuclear reactor projects.

In 20242, the utility invested €22.4bn, primarily in maintaining and upgrading France’s 57 nuclear plants and power grids, and building two UK reactors, with only 12% of capital expenditure allocated to renewables.

Early in his second term, which began in January 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at repealing or altering tax credits for solar and wind projects, citing concerns about reliability and cost-effectiveness compared with other energy sources.

In February 2025, EDF incurred an impairment of €934m on its Atlantic Shores offshore wind farm project, a joint venture with Shell located off the US state of New Jersey. The project’s development permit was revoked in March.

In June, EDF announced a £1.1bn ($1.49bn) investment in the UK’s Sizewell C nuclear project.

This investment will secure a 12.5% stake for EDF in Sizewell C, and create thousands of jobs in the UK.