popular articles

France facing the energy crisis of 2022

France is going through an energy crisis unprecedented since the oil crisis of the 1970s, with electricity production at its lowest since 1992. Low nuclear and hydro generation, due to corroded pipes and the Covid-19 pandemic, forced the country to become a net importer of electricity for the first time since 1980. However, France has managed to maintain its security of supply thanks to a mild autumn and early winter, sobriety on the part of individuals and businesses, as well as the import of electricity and the return of nuclear power.

Please share:

France is undergoing an energy crisis without precedent since the oil crisis of the 1970s. Total electricity production reached its lowest level since 1992, due to exceptionally low nuclear and hydro generation. Only 62.7% of the electricity produced last year was nuclear. The operator EDF has experienced problems with the discovery of corrosion on pipes crucial to the safety of nuclear power plants and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to a drop in the average availability of the reactor fleet. Dams also produced less electricity due to unusually hot and dry weather.

 

Production problems

In 2022, total electricity production is down by 15% compared to 2021, mainly due to low nuclear and hydro generation. Nuclear production has reached its lowest level since 1988, well before the end of the construction of the nuclear park, with a production of only 279 TWh in 2022, far from the 430 TWh in 2005. The average availability of the 56 reactors has fallen to 54% in 2022, threatening the country with power cuts in the middle of winter. Dams also produced less electricity due to unusually hot and dry weather. Production has reached its “lowest level” since the 1976 drought, down 20% from the 2014-2019 average.

Net importer of electricity

France has become a net importer of electricity in 2022, a situation not seen since 1980 according to the electricity transmission system operator RTE. Compared to historical average values (2014-2019), consumption in 2022 has decreased by 4.2% to 459.3 TWh, and even by 9% in the last quarter. As production has fallen more than consumption, France has had to compensate by running its gas-fired power plants and importing electricity from its neighbors, without being able to export as much as before.

 

The energy transition in France is progressing

France has managed to maintain its security of supply despite the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to a mild autumn and early winter, the mobilization of individuals and businesses called for sobriety, as well as electricity imports and the return of the nuclear fleet.

Even so, 2022 saw progress in the energy transition, with 5 gigawatts of renewable installations coming online, another record broken according to RTE. However, RTE warns that an acceleration is still essential, as the electricity produced in France in 2022 remained at 87% of decarbonated origin, against about 91% over the period 2014-2021. Gas-fired power generation has taken the place of wind power behind nuclear and hydro in 2022, but France has not signed the great comeback of coal, which only accounted for 0.6% of the generation mix.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

In London, global officials gather to discuss energy security amid rising geopolitical tensions. Disagreements persist on the role of renewable energy in meeting global demand.
As a parliamentary debate approaches, twenty energy organizations urge lawmakers to act to reduce France's reliance on fossil fuels by accelerating the electrification of uses.
As a parliamentary debate approaches, twenty energy organizations urge lawmakers to act to reduce France's reliance on fossil fuels by accelerating the electrification of uses.
Nigeria aims to increase its electricity production capacity by 4,000 MW by 2026 to meet the growing demand of the industrial sector, in a context of reforms and partnerships with international players.
Nigeria aims to increase its electricity production capacity by 4,000 MW by 2026 to meet the growing demand of the industrial sector, in a context of reforms and partnerships with international players.
EDF’s outgoing CEO, Luc Rémont, claims French electricity will be more competitive than that of the United States, despite ongoing criticisms from industrialists about high tariffs.
EDF’s outgoing CEO, Luc Rémont, claims French electricity will be more competitive than that of the United States, despite ongoing criticisms from industrialists about high tariffs.
Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies and regulatory uncertainty in the United States are slowing investments in wind, solar, and energy storage, pushing the sector into a period of caution and market volatility.
The French government activates five funding mechanisms to support industrial decarbonisation projects through the France 2030 plan, targeting major sites, SMEs and high-emission industrial zones.
The French government activates five funding mechanisms to support industrial decarbonisation projects through the France 2030 plan, targeting major sites, SMEs and high-emission industrial zones.
Paris releases a new €400mn funding package to support industrial projects aimed at reducing emissions under the France 2030 programme.
Paris releases a new €400mn funding package to support industrial projects aimed at reducing emissions under the France 2030 programme.
The massive withdrawal of American financial support and the reduction of European aid could jeopardize energy projects in Africa, profoundly altering their financing structure and the continent's commitments.
The massive withdrawal of American financial support and the reduction of European aid could jeopardize energy projects in Africa, profoundly altering their financing structure and the continent's commitments.
The Vietnamese government has raised its renewable energy targets in a new version of its national energy plan, responding to continued growth in electricity demand.
A massive outage plunged Puerto Rico into darkness on Wednesday, leaving approximately 1.1 million households without electricity after an unexpected shutdown of all its power plants.
A massive outage plunged Puerto Rico into darkness on Wednesday, leaving approximately 1.1 million households without electricity after an unexpected shutdown of all its power plants.
The Czech Republic has ended its dependency on Russian oil after more than six decades, a major shift made in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Czech Republic has ended its dependency on Russian oil after more than six decades, a major shift made in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The European power purchase agreement (PPA) market for renewables reached 19 GW of new capacity in 2024, with growing momentum for hybrid contracts including storage.
The European power purchase agreement (PPA) market for renewables reached 19 GW of new capacity in 2024, with growing momentum for hybrid contracts including storage.
Industry Minister Marc Ferracci criticised the Rassemblement National's stance on energy, accusing it of hindering planned investments in renewables in favour of fossil fuel imports.
Bill 69 sparks protests in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where several organisations denounce a risk of privatising Quebec’s electricity sector.
Bill 69 sparks protests in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where several organisations denounce a risk of privatising Quebec’s electricity sector.
Wind and solar energy accounted for nearly one-fifth of Türkiye’s electricity generation in 2024, according to an analysis by think tank Ember, driven by a strong increase in installed capacity.
Wind and solar energy accounted for nearly one-fifth of Türkiye’s electricity generation in 2024, according to an analysis by think tank Ember, driven by a strong increase in installed capacity.
The Acerez consortium has signed a 35-year agreement to build and operate over 240 km of high-voltage lines in Australia, marking the country's first public-private partnership in the sector.
The Acerez consortium has signed a 35-year agreement to build and operate over 240 km of high-voltage lines in Australia, marking the country's first public-private partnership in the sector.
France’s multi-year energy strategy shifts focus away from photovoltaics toward flexibility measures, including battery storage, to address growing imbalances in the electricity market.
France’s energy regulator unveils its first observatory dedicated to renewable electricity purchase agreements, highlighting a recent but still marginal growth compared to State-backed mechanisms.
France’s energy regulator unveils its first observatory dedicated to renewable electricity purchase agreements, highlighting a recent but still marginal growth compared to State-backed mechanisms.
The French government plans to adopt within two weeks a decree outlining the decade’s energy objectives, restarting nuclear power and preparing for a parliamentary debate on energy sovereignty.
The French government plans to adopt within two weeks a decree outlining the decade’s energy objectives, restarting nuclear power and preparing for a parliamentary debate on energy sovereignty.
The expansion of solar and wind capacity is multiplying hours of negative prices on European electricity markets, weakening the sector's economic balance while reshaping export and storage dynamics.
The expansion of solar and wind capacity is multiplying hours of negative prices on European electricity markets, weakening the sector's economic balance while reshaping export and storage dynamics.
Despite a predominantly decarbonised electricity production, demand in Europe remains subdued, hindered by uncompetitive prices and limited industrial usage.
Data from think tank Ember reveals that fossil fuels accounted for just 49.2% of US electricity generation in March 2025, marking an unprecedented threshold.
Data from think tank Ember reveals that fossil fuels accounted for just 49.2% of US electricity generation in March 2025, marking an unprecedented threshold.
The global electricity mix shifted in 2024 with 40.9% of production from low-carbon sources, according to Ember, driven by historic solar power growth.
The global electricity mix shifted in 2024 with 40.9% of production from low-carbon sources, according to Ember, driven by historic solar power growth.
Facing recurring shortages, Tajikistan tightens energy laws by introducing prison sentences of up to ten years for electricity fraud to protect its ageing hydropower network.
Facing recurring shortages, Tajikistan tightens energy laws by introducing prison sentences of up to ten years for electricity fraud to protect its ageing hydropower network.

Advertising