According to preliminary estimates by French transmission network operator GRTgaz (75% of the gas transmission network in France), gas consumption rose by 8.1% in France in 2015, due to a soaring demand from gas-fired power plants in a context of more favourable economic conditions. Corrected from climate impact (2015 was a particularly hot year), gas demand increased by 3.4%.
Industrial consumption (industry and power sector) increased by 10.8%, thanks to a 79% rise in gas demand from power and CHP plants, as some mothballed gas-fired power plant resumed operations in late 2015; gas power plants also benefited from lowering prices (from €22/MWh in the first quarter of 2015 to €17/MWh in the fourth quarter of 2015), improving their competitiveness. Gas demand from other industrial users (large customers connected to the transmission network) remained stable in 2015 (+0.15%).
Where gas consumption on the distribution networks is concerned, it increased by 6.6% during 2015 (-0.2% corrected from climate impact).