the energy mix targeted by the government in the future bill

The Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, is preparing a text for the end of January, so that the majority of energy consumed in France comes from renewable energies within ten years. A very ambitious goal.

A cold spell has set in since Monday January 8 over a large part of France. The cold will intensify until Tuesday, with negative temperatures in places. With this weather, electricity consumption will automatically increase. Franceinfo takes advantage of this cold episode to take stock of French energy production, against the backdrop of the challenge of decarbonization and the increase in the share of renewable energies. The President of the Republic has, in any case, promised to reduce the share of fossil fuels in total consumption in France.

The Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, will present an energy sovereignty bill at the end of January, with ambitious objectives. In any case, the minister assured that “everything is going to be fine” during this cold episode, Monday on franceinfo. Because France is currently producing more electricity than it consumes and even exports electricity. The difficulties of last winter, when some nuclear power plants were shut down for unscheduled overhauls, have been forgotten.

Nuclear power remains largely the primary source of electricity production

Nuclear power represents overall 70% of French electricity production. According to RTE, the network manager, this share amounts to precisely 60% at present, at the beginning of January. The rest of the production comes mainly from renewable energies, with hydro and wind accounting for 12% each at the moment. But little solar energy is currently produced, due to the weather. France also produces gas, which amounts to 10% of production on Monday midday. Gas stocks are also sufficient to get through the winter. In the event of extreme cold, France can also launch its two coal-fired power plants, which must however close by 2027 according to Emmanuel Macron.

To meet the objectives of reducing fossil fuels, the government will present a bill with ambitious objectives by the end of January. It consists of accelerating the exit from fossil fuels and thus reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

The government is targeting 60% carbon-free energy in ten years

Today, fossil fuels represent around 60% of the energy consumed in France, including transport in addition to electricity. For 2035, in just over ten years, Agnès Pannier-Runacher is aiming for the opposite: 60% carbon-free energy in our consumption, then with the objective of carbon neutrality in 2050. France will therefore have to produce more carbon-free electricity.

The Minister of Energy Transition is counting on both new nuclear reactors (EPR) and the development of renewable energies. “Last year, we increased nuclear-based electricity production by around 15%, our photovoltaic production by 15%, and wind power by 30%”, assured Agnès Pannier-Runacher on franceinfo. The minister is counting first on the acceleration of the development of renewable energies in the coming years, then ultimately on future additional nuclear reactors. The latter, which have not yet been built, will only come into service after 2035.