France increased its electricity exports in 2024, driven by a surge in production, with nuclear and hydropower leading the way, according to an analysis published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Overall, France increased its electricity generation by 45 terawatts-hours (TWh) in 2024, while the country's consumption remained steady.
Nuclear energy generation increased the most, followed by hydropower, while wind and natural gas-fired generation decreased.
Nuclear generation increased from 320 TWh in 2023 to 361 TWh in 2024, despite no change in installed nuclear capacity until Flamanville Unit 3 was added in December 2024, bringing nuclear generation more in line with historic output, according to data from nuclear operator EDF.
- Hydropower is second largest source with 29% increase
Within France's electricity generation mix, nuclear energy increased the most, followed by hydropower, which increased from 58 TWh in 2023 to 75 TWh in 2024.
By comparison, electricity generation from fossil sources and wind power decreased, from 32 TWh to 20 TWh for fossil fuels, and from 51 TWh to 47 TWh for wind power.
While France's electricity exports to Belgium and Germany increased the most, France also exported more electricity to Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and Italy, according to data from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity.
- France's electricity import falls by 50%
The rise in French electricity generation reduced the country's need for gross electricity imports, which fell by 50% in 2024.
Among the six countries France imported electricity from in both 2023 and 2024, Spain was the largest source of electricity in both years.
However, with France's increased electricity generation and exports, Spain became a net importer of electricity from France, meaning it imported more electricity from France than they exported to France, similar to the other five countries that trade electricity with France.
By Humeyra Ayaz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
