French network managers have specified that future consumption would depend heavily on the availability of nuclear power and the deployment of new means of producing renewable electricity.
French gas consumption is expected to decline by around 2.9% per year by 2035 to around 282 terawatt hours (TWh) due to the country’s carbon neutrality targets and energy efficiency efforts, according to a study published Thursday by network managers.
The injection of renewable and low-carbon gases into the network would increase to represent around 20% of the gas consumed in 2030 – out of a total consumption of 321 TWh – and more than 40% in 2035, GRDF, GRTgaz and Terega also indicated in their study. The production of renewable and low-carbon gases (excluding hydrogen) would thus reach 60 TWh in 2030 and double five years later.
Annual decrease of 3.6% since 2018
French gas consumption fell by 3.6% per year on average from 2018 to 2023, with a particularly marked decline last year due to the cumulative effects of a persistently mild climate, changes in behavior and the maintenance of energy savings following the war in Ukraine.
French gas network managers have specified that gas consumption over the next ten years would depend heavily on the availability of nuclear power and the deployment of new means of producing renewable electricity, in France and in neighbouring countries, as well as the rate of electrification of uses.
“The delay in certain ambitions of the energy transition or, conversely, the consequences of more proactive policies on reindustrialization, could require higher volumes of gas,” they stressed in a press release.
