France’s electricity transmission system operator, Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), has called for an urgent national effort to accelerate electrification across key sectors, aiming to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthen the country’s energy sovereignty. This message appears in RTE’s 2025 forecast report, intended to guide upcoming government decisions on France’s energy roadmap.
A trade deficit driven by fossil fuel imports
Imports of hydrocarbons, particularly natural gas and oil, generate an annual trade deficit of EUR50bn to EUR70bn ($54bn–$76bn) for France. This figure reached nearly EUR120bn ($130bn) during the recent energy crisis, according to RTE. The report argues that greater electrification of energy consumption, powered by low-carbon sources such as nuclear or renewables, would help mitigate this cost.
France’s decarbonisation strategy aims to reduce the share of hydrocarbons in energy consumption from 60% today to between 30–35% by 2035. RTE recommends a sharp increase in electricity use in transport, industry and buildings. The country already benefits from a 95% decarbonised electricity mix and wholesale prices among the lowest in Europe.
A structural advantage still underused
Despite these advantages, the report states that France is lagging behind in shifting energy uses to electricity. According to RTE, this delay pushes the country towards a “slow” decarbonisation scenario, falling short of climate targets and seeing a reduced share of manufacturing in the gross domestic product.
RTE’s Chief Executive Officer for Economics, Strategy and Finance, Thomas Veyrenc, explained that electrification is not only a climate issue but also a strategic one, to reduce exposure to energy imports from geopolitically sensitive regions such as Russia, the Middle East and even the United States.
Adjusted forecasts and pending political decisions
RTE has revised down its 2035 electricity demand forecast by approximately 35 terawatt-hours (TWh) compared to its 2023 outlook. The adjustment reflects the economic context, the slower pace of electrification, and the lasting impact of energy-saving measures implemented since 2022.
The report’s release comes as the French government prepares to announce, before the end of the year, a new electrification strategy to complement the national energy planning programme. This roadmap is already more than two years overdue, due to political divisions over the energy mix between nuclear and renewables.
RTE advocates for a dual-source approach
Xavier Piechaczyk, Chairman of RTE’s Executive Board, warned against creating opposition between energy sources. He insisted that France’s future energy system must rely on both renewables and nuclear to remain stable. With a temporary electricity overcapacity expected until 2028, RTE sees two options: either accelerating electricity consumption in currently low-consuming sectors or slowing the deployment of renewable capacity.
However, Piechaczyk cautioned that the second option, while technically feasible, would be less efficient economically and could undermine industrial sectors involved in renewable energy development.
