France Energy Information

France Energy Research

- France's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: France aims for 50% GHG cuts by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 41% renewables target. The PPE 2028 delays nuclear reduction to 2035, phases out coal by 2027, and introduces new energy efficiency measures. The electricity and gas markets are fully liberalised, with regulated tariffs abolished. Renewables support includes tenders and FiTs, while nuclear remains a key energy source.

- France's Energy Companies: EDF and Engie dominate France's energy sector, with EDF leading in electricity generation (76% nuclear) and Engie in gas supply. TotalEnergies is a key player in oil and renewables. RTE and Enedis manage transmission and distribution networks. Engie and EDF lead in power and gas sales, with multiple suppliers active in the market.

- France's Energy Supply & Demand: In 2024, France's energy mix saw 5 GW of new solar capacity, with carbon-free sources making up 93% of power generation. Total energy consumption rose by 1.7% to 218 Mtoe, driven by nuclear (42%) and oil (28%). Net electricity exports surged by 78% to 90 TWh, the highest on record. France remains a global leader in low-carbon electricity, with CO₂ emissions per capita 51% below the OECD average.

- France's Energy Use & Price by Sector: France's final energy consumption has declined since 2021, with electricity prices rising sharply for households and industry. Oil remains the dominant energy source, while nuclear's inefficiency impacts overall consumption trends. Sectoral shares are stable, with buildings, transport, and industry as the primary consumers. Electricity's share is growing, expected to rise further by 2050. Industry and transport energy demands show distinct trends, with prices fluctuating due to market and policy factors.

- France's Issues & Prospects: France plans to double wind and solar capacity by 2028, reduce fossil fuel use by 35% by 2030, and expand nuclear and renewable energy projects, including new EPR reactors and offshore wind farms, while investing in transmission infrastructure and hydrogen pipelines.

France Total Energy Production & Consumption

After a 10% fall in 2022, total energy consumption increased by 1.7%/year to 218 Mtoe in 2024. It had been on a declining trend from 2005 to 2022 (-23% over 2005-2024 i.e. -1.5%/year). Consumption per capita stood at 3.2 toe in 2024 and is around 15% above the EU average. Nuclear is the main energy source (42%, +5 pp compared to 2022), followed by oil (28%), gas (13%), biomass (9%), hydro (3%), coal (2%), wind (2%), and solar (1%).

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

France Oil Production & Consumption

Imports of crude oil declined by 2% in 2024 to 45 Mt, after an 11%/year increase over 2021-2023, while the production of petroleum products remained stable at 47 Mt, after growing by 14%/year over 2022-2023. As a consequence, imports of oil products rose by 1% in 2024 to 38 Mt, after falling by 9%/year in 2022-2023.

France received crude oil from three ports: Donges (near Nantes), Le Havre and Marseille. Six additional import points of refined products are located in Bordeaux, Dunkerque, Frontignan, La Rochelle, Port La Nouvelle, and Strasbourg.

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart France Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

France Natural Gas Production & Consumption

All gas is imported since production stopped in 2013.

After reaching a peak at 55 bcm in 2022 (+22% compared to 2021), gas imports have declined by 13%/year since then, reaching 42 bcm in 2024. The peak in 2022 is explained by reexports to countries that did not have LNG terminals. The share of LNG in gas imports averaged around 60% since 2022 (57% in 2024), compared to 35% in 2021.

In addition, exports almost tripled in 2022 and have remained at that level since then (around 13-14 bcm).

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

France Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

All the coal is imported (5.5 Mt in 2024) since coal production stopped in 2004. In 2023, Australia (31%), the US (16%) and Russia (15%) were the main suppliers.

Since 2013, coal consumption has decreased by 8%/year to 7 Mt (-64% over 2013-2024), including -21% in 2023, as a result of the shutdown of virtually all French coal-fired power plants. Coal is mostly consumed in coking plants (76%).

Graph: Coal Production & Consumption

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

France Renewable in % Electricity Production

ADEME, Agency for Ecological Transition, is responsible for the implementation of public policy on energy efficiency and renewables. It is supervised by the Ministry of Research and the MEIT.

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

France GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

In its final NECP (2024), France targets a 50% cut in GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF) by 2030 relative to 1990 levels and carbon neutrality by 2050. This target was included in the draft National Low-Carbon Strategy, which also establishes goals to reduce France's carbon footprint by 71-79% by 2050 relative to 2010.

Source: France energy report

Interactive Chart France CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data