France's natural gas consumption increased by 6% in 2021 to 474 TWh due to a colder climate (average temperature of -1.4°C compared to 2020), according to the main gas transmission system operator (TSO) GRTgaz. The impact of the meteorological factor is particularly important on the gross consumption of public distribution (64% of the total), which increased by 12% in 2021 to 303 TWh. Consumption in the industrial sector (28% of the total) remained stable at 132 TWh, as the decline in the refining and petrochemicals sector was offset by higher demand in most other sectors due to the economic recovery. Finally, consumption of gas-fired power plants (8% of the total) declined by 10% to 39 TWh, despite an increased contribution during the winter periods to support the electricity system.
The price of gas on the wholesale markets in France was multiplied by 5 in 2021 to an average of €46/MWh in 2021 due to a strong demand for gas driven by the sustained global economic, especially in China, and lower volumes delivered from Russia. In addition, the number of sites injecting methane into the French gas networks increased by 151 in 2021 to 365. Biomethane injections represented 4.3 TWh in 2021, compared to 2.2 TWh in 2020.