France's 2024 Electricity Surge: Nuclear Recovery and Renewables Drive Record Output

January 20, 2025
France's 2024 Electricity Surge: Nuclear Recovery and Renewables Drive Record Output
  • This impressive output reflects a significant recovery in nuclear production, which rebounded from a historic low of 279 TWh in 2022 due to corrosion issues.

  • Overall, this achievement represents an 8.45% increase from 2023, driven by both the recovery in nuclear energy and record renewable energy output.

  • Notably, fossil fuel electricity generation dropped to 19.9 TWh, the lowest since the early 1950s, and for the first time, solar production exceeded fossil fuels, generating 23.3 TWh.

  • The carbon intensity of French electricity generation was recorded at 21.3 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh, nearly one-third lower than in 2023, positioning France among the lowest in the world.

  • In 2024, France achieved a total electricity production of 536.5 TWh, marking the highest level in five years and comparable to pre-COVID levels in 2019.

  • Renewable energy production also set a record at 148 TWh, contributing to 27.6% of the total electricity generated.

  • Gas plants produced 17.4 TWh in 2024, a significant decrease from 29.2 TWh in 2023, while coal and oil contributions remained minimal at 0.7 TWh and 1.8 TWh, respectively.

  • In a broader context, Germany achieved a record share of renewable energy at 59% in 2024, while the UK reached a low-carbon electricity share of 58%, with significant contributions from renewables and nuclear.

  • As part of its commitment to sustainability, France aims to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2027, with coal accounting for only 0.7 TWh of electricity produced in 2024.

Summary based on 3 sources


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