France’s electricity production has reached its highest level since 2019 in the first half of the year, rebounding from two years of crisis.
This resurgence is largely attributed to a significant increase in hydropower generation, according to RTE, the French electricity transmission system operator.
Hydropower Drives Production Growth
In the first six months of the year, France generated a total of 272 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. Hydroelectric dams played a crucial role, producing 41 TWh, marking a 37% increase compared to 2023 and a 13% increase compared to the 2000-2020 average.
Abundant winter and spring rainfall replenished reservoirs, contributing to this exceptional hydropower performance.
Nuclear and Renewable Energy Also Contribute
Nuclear power production, which faced challenges in recent years due to corrosion issues in some reactors, is also on the rise.
It reached 177 TWh, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. However, it remains 14% lower than the 2000-2020 average. Renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, are steadily growing.
Wind power generation reached 25.5 TWh, while solar photovoltaic production reached 11.4 TWh, representing increases of 3% and 5% respectively.
Fossil Fuel Production Plummets
In contrast, fossil fuel-based electricity production, primarily from gas, has reached its lowest level since the 1950s.
It amounted to only 11.5 TWh, a substantial 54% decrease compared to the 2000-2020 average. Notably, coal-fired power plants operated for a mere 100 hours in the first half of the year.
Decarbonization Milestone
Thomas Veyrenc, Executive Director of Economics and Strategy at RTE, emphasized the significance of these developments: “In the first half of the year, 96% of French electricity production was decarbonized.” He described this achievement as an “exceptional performance” in the country’s ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions.