Electricity sector in France
Encyclopedia
The electricity sector in France is the main article of electricity
in France
. Energy in France
focus energy
and electricity production, consumption and import in France. Energy policy of France will describe the politics of France
related to energy more in detail.
In the year 2009 electricity was produced with nuclear power 76%, renewable sources 14% and fossil fuels 10%. France has the largest share of nuclear electricity in the world in its grid. The French nuclear power sector is almost entirely owned by the French government and the degree of the government subsidy is difficult to ascertain because of a lack of transparencies in the finances of the operation.
The production of the nuclear power in France decreased 12% in 2009 compared to 2004 equivalent to 8% units share less nuclear power. It was almost equal to the 7 % drop in electricity export.
(head office in Paris) the gross production of electricity was 570 TWh in 2008 and 567 TWh in 2004 giving the 8 th top position among the world producers in 2010. Top eight countries produced 62 % of electricity in 2008. The top producers were: 1) United States 21.5 % 2) China 17.1% 3) Japan
5.3 % 4) Russia
5.1 % 5) India 4.1 % 6) Canada 3.2 % and 7) Germany
3.1 % 8) France 2.8 % ) 9) Brazil
2.3 % and 10) South Korea 2.2 %. The rest of the world produced 33 %.
(EPR) at Flamanville
was expected in 7/2011 to open in 2016 instead of the original starting date of 2012 and cost €6bn instead of the original cost of €3.3bn.
The French nuclear power is almost entirely owned by the French government and its electricity is sold to the government. According to Al Gore
the degree of the government subsidy is difficult to ascertain because of a lack of transparencies in the finances of the operation.
France has the largest share of electricity from nuclear power in the world. According to the IEA
77 % of its domestic electricity was generated by nuclear power in 2008. The second was Ukraine
46.7 %, third Sweden
42.6 % and followed by South Korea
34.0 %, Japan
24.0 %, Germany
23.5 %, United States 19.3 %, Russia
15.7 %, Canada
14.4 % and China
2.0. %
According to Greenpeace
French electricity planning was based in 1970’s on a doubling of consumption every ten years and one unit nuclear plant export for each domestic unit. In reality, France exported nine units to four countries (Belgium, South Africa, China
and South Korea
), prior to the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) order by Finland
in 2005, compared to 58 reactors built in France. The EPR is a new reactor developed by France and Siemens
Germany.
In terms of installed capacity and produced power in 2008 France was the top second nuclear electricity country in the world behind the United States. Installed nuclear capacity was 63 GW and power production 439 TWh i.e. 16.1 % of the world total. In 2004 power production was equal.
Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique is the national authority in France. Nuclear companies include EdF and Areva
. Électricité de France
EdF is the main electricity producer. Eurodif
is the uranium enrichment plant. Areva NC (France) and Rio Tinto
(UK) are the top uranium companies of the world.
France reprocesses its nuclear waste to retrieve plutonium and uranium for use as additional fuel. Fission products are stored in La Hague facility
until a deep geological repository for high-level waste can be constructed. A repository for low-level and short-lived intermediate-level nuclear waste is already operational.
in France was 5,660 MW at the end of 2010 and 4,574 MW at the end of 2009. The share of wind power in the end of 2010 was in average 2.3% of electricity need.
46 TWh and Canada 32 TWh.
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Energy in France
Energy in France
Energy in France describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in France. Energy policy of France will describe more in detail the politics of France related to energy. Electricity sector in France is the main article of electricity in France.-Overview:-Companies:Électricité...
focus energy
World energy resources and consumption
]World energy consumption in 2010: over 5% growthEnergy markets have combined crisis recovery and strong industry dynamism. Energy consumption in the G20 soared by more than 5% in 2010, after the slight decrease of 2009. This strong increase is the result of two converging trends...
and electricity production, consumption and import in France. Energy policy of France will describe the politics of France
Politics of France
France is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of France is head of state and the Prime Minister of France is the head of government, and there is a pluriform, multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
related to energy more in detail.
In the year 2009 electricity was produced with nuclear power 76%, renewable sources 14% and fossil fuels 10%. France has the largest share of nuclear electricity in the world in its grid. The French nuclear power sector is almost entirely owned by the French government and the degree of the government subsidy is difficult to ascertain because of a lack of transparencies in the finances of the operation.
The production of the nuclear power in France decreased 12% in 2009 compared to 2004 equivalent to 8% units share less nuclear power. It was almost equal to the 7 % drop in electricity export.
Consumption
In 2008 consumption of electricity was on average 8,233 kWh/person. This corresponded to 110% of the EU15 average (7,409 kWh/person) and 91% of the OECD average (8,991 kWh/person).Electricity per person and by power source
| Electricity pro person in France (kWh/ hab.) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use | Production | Export | Exp. % | Fossil | Nuclear Nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity... |
Nuc. Nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity... % |
Other RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... * |
Bio Biomass Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.... +waste |
Wind | Non RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... use* |
RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... %* |
|
| 2004 | 8,204 | 9,203 | 999 | 12.2 % | 849 | 7,209 | 87.9 % | 1,061 | 83 | 7,060 | 13.9 % | |
| 2005 | 8,215 | 9,176 | 961 | 11.7 % | 970 | 7,201 | 87.7 % | 924 | 81 | 7,210 | 12.2 % | |
| 2006 | 8,140 | 9,041 | 901 | 11.1 % | 897 | 6,977 | 85.7 % | 1,083 | 85 | 6,972 | 14.3 % | |
| 2008 | 8,233 | 8,984 | 751 | 9.1 % | 853 | 6,872 | 83.5 % | 1,168 | 91 | 6,974 | 15.3 % | |
| 2009 | 7,951 | 8,351 | 400 | 5.0 % | 871 | 6,371 | 80.1 % | 897* | 93 | 121* | 6,840 | 14.0 % |
| * Other RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... is waterpower, solar and geothermal electricity Geothermal electricity Geothermal electricity is electricity generated from geothermal energy.Technologies in use include dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants... and wind power Wind power Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.... until 2008 * Non RE use = use – production of renewable electricity * RE % = (production of RE / use) * 100 % Note: European Union Renewable energy in the European Union The countries of the European Union are currently the number two global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU's dependence on foreign energy imports, and in meeting targets to combat... calculates the share of renewable energies in gross electrical consumption. |
||||||||||||
Mode of production
According to the IEAInternational Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
(head office in Paris) the gross production of electricity was 570 TWh in 2008 and 567 TWh in 2004 giving the 8 th top position among the world producers in 2010. Top eight countries produced 62 % of electricity in 2008. The top producers were: 1) United States 21.5 % 2) China 17.1% 3) Japan
Electricity sector in Japan
The electric power industry in Japan covers the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in Japan.- Consumption :In 2008, Japan consumed an average of 8507 kWh/person of electricity...
5.3 % 4) Russia
Electricity sector in Russia
The electricity sector in Russia describes electricity in Russia. In the year 2008 electricity as gross production was produced with gas 48 %, coal and peat 19 %, hydro electricity 16 % and nuclear power 16 %.-Consumption:...
5.1 % 5) India 4.1 % 6) Canada 3.2 % and 7) Germany
Electricity sector in Germany
The electricity sector in Germany included in the year 2009 fossil fuelled power 61 %, nuclear power 23 % and renewable energy 18 %. Germany has defined a phase-out policy of nuclear power by 2022...
3.1 % 8) France 2.8 % ) 9) Brazil
Electricity sector in Brazil
Brazil has the largest electricity market in South America, with a power consumption that is more than double the combined consumption of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay. Its installed capacity is comparable to that of Italy and the United Kingdom, although with a much larger transmission...
2.3 % and 10) South Korea 2.2 %. The rest of the world produced 33 %.
Nuclear power
The European Pressurized ReactorEuropean Pressurized Reactor
The EPR is a third generation pressurized water reactor design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome , Electricité de France in France, and Siemens AG in Germany...
(EPR) at Flamanville
Flamanville, Manche
Flamanville is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France.- Port :The port of Flamanville, in the northern part of the commune, is known as Diélette...
was expected in 7/2011 to open in 2016 instead of the original starting date of 2012 and cost €6bn instead of the original cost of €3.3bn.
The French nuclear power is almost entirely owned by the French government and its electricity is sold to the government. According to Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
the degree of the government subsidy is difficult to ascertain because of a lack of transparencies in the finances of the operation.
France has the largest share of electricity from nuclear power in the world. According to the IEA
International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
77 % of its domestic electricity was generated by nuclear power in 2008. The second was Ukraine
Nuclear power in Ukraine
In 2007, nuclear power supplied 47.5% of Ukraine's electricity production of 195 billion kWh. The total installed capacity of nuclear reactors in Ukraine is over 13 GWe....
46.7 %, third Sweden
Nuclear power in Sweden
Sweden has an energy policy focused on hydroelectricity, which has been supplemented by nuclear power starting in 1965.The country began research into nuclear energy in 1947 with the establishment of the Atomic Energy Research Organization. In 1964, the country built its first small heavy water...
42.6 % and followed by South Korea
Nuclear power in South Korea
The total electrical generation capacity of the nuclear power plants of South Korea is 18.5 GWe from 21 reactors. This is 29.5% of South Korea's total electrical generation capacity, but 45% of total electrical consumption...
34.0 %, Japan
Nuclear power in Japan
Nuclear energy was a national strategic priority in Japan, but there has been concern about the ability of Japan's nuclear plants to withstand seismic activity...
24.0 %, Germany
Nuclear power in Germany
Nuclear power in Germany accounted for 23% of national electricity consumption, before the permanent shutdown of 8 plants in March 2011. German nuclear power began with research reactors in the 1950s and 1960s with the first commercial plant coming online in 1969...
23.5 %, United States 19.3 %, Russia
Nuclear power in Russia
In 2010 total electricity generated in nuclear power plants in Russia was 170.1 TWh, 16% of all power generation. The installed capacity of Russian nuclear reactors stood at 21,244 MW....
15.7 %, Canada
Nuclear power in Canada
Nuclear power in Canada produces about 15% of Canada's electricity as of 2009.-History:The nuclear industry in Canada dates back to 1942 when a joint British-Canadian laboratory, the Montreal Laboratory, was set up in Montreal, Quebec, under the administration of the National Research Council of...
14.4 % and China
Nuclear power in China
, the People's Republic of China has 14 nuclear power reactors spread out over 4 separate sites and 27 under construction. China's National Development and Reform Commission has indicated the intention to raise the percentage of China's electricity produced by nuclear power from the current 1% to...
2.0. %
According to Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
French electricity planning was based in 1970’s on a doubling of consumption every ten years and one unit nuclear plant export for each domestic unit. In reality, France exported nine units to four countries (Belgium, South Africa, China
Nuclear power in China
, the People's Republic of China has 14 nuclear power reactors spread out over 4 separate sites and 27 under construction. China's National Development and Reform Commission has indicated the intention to raise the percentage of China's electricity produced by nuclear power from the current 1% to...
and South Korea
Nuclear power in South Korea
The total electrical generation capacity of the nuclear power plants of South Korea is 18.5 GWe from 21 reactors. This is 29.5% of South Korea's total electrical generation capacity, but 45% of total electrical consumption...
), prior to the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) order by Finland
Nuclear power in Finland
As of 2008, Finland's nuclear power program has four nuclear reactors in two power plants. The first of these came into operation in 1977. In 2007 they provided 28.4% of Finland's electricity. They are among the world's most productive, with average capacity factors of 94% in the 1990s...
in 2005, compared to 58 reactors built in France. The EPR is a new reactor developed by France and Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
Germany.
In terms of installed capacity and produced power in 2008 France was the top second nuclear electricity country in the world behind the United States. Installed nuclear capacity was 63 GW and power production 439 TWh i.e. 16.1 % of the world total. In 2004 power production was equal.
Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique is the national authority in France. Nuclear companies include EdF and Areva
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
. Électricité de France
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
EdF is the main electricity producer. Eurodif
Eurodif
Eurodif, which means European Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment Consortium, is a subsidiary of the French company AREVA which operates a uranium enrichment plant established at the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center in Pierrelatte in Drôme...
is the uranium enrichment plant. Areva NC (France) and Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
(UK) are the top uranium companies of the world.
France reprocesses its nuclear waste to retrieve plutonium and uranium for use as additional fuel. Fission products are stored in La Hague facility
COGEMA La Hague site
The AREVA NC La Hague site is a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant of AREVA in La Hague on the French Cotentin Peninsula that currently has nearly half of the world's light water reactor spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capacity. It has been in operation since 1976, and has a capacity of about 1700...
until a deep geological repository for high-level waste can be constructed. A repository for low-level and short-lived intermediate-level nuclear waste is already operational.
Wind power
Installed wind powerWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
in France was 5,660 MW at the end of 2010 and 4,574 MW at the end of 2009. The share of wind power in the end of 2010 was in average 2.3% of electricity need.
Export
France was the leader in the export of electricity in 2008: 48 TWh followed by ParaguayElectricity sector in Paraguay
Paraguay is one of the few countries in Latin America that has maintained an integrated public monopoly on electricity. Hydropower comprises nearly 100 percent of electricity in Paraguay; 90 percent of generated energy is exported, with neighboring Argentina and Brazil receiving the majority...
46 TWh and Canada 32 TWh.