Electricity production in France is increasingly carbon-free and has returned to its 2019 level

Nuclear power remains the leading source of electricity production, with a share of 67.41%, far ahead of renewable energies, after having turned the page on its difficulties linked to the corrosion of reactors and the Covid-19 crisis.

In 2024, France returned to electricity production close to its levels before the Covid-19 crisis, thanks to “rapid recovery” nuclear and renewable production “record”announced Monday January 20 the network manager, RTE. The country was thus able to cross the threshold of 95% of electricity produced from low-carbon sources for the first time.

“With 536.5 TWh, [la] electricity production [de la France] reached its highest level in 5 years. It thus returns to a level identical to that of 2019, in line with the 2014-2019 average.“detailed the manager of the high voltage network.

This increase of 8.45% compared to 2023 results from several factors: “rapid recovery” nuclear power, which was at its lowest level in 30 years in 2022, due to corrosion problems in the nuclear fleet; “exceptional hydraulic production”at the highest since 2013; And “sustained growth in production in the wind and solar sectors”.

Nuclear power remains the leading source of electricity production in France, with a share of 67.41%. But the production of renewable energy “reached a record of 148 TWh, or 27.6% of total production”underlined RTE. About a third came from wind power.