Where Does The Energy Used In France Originate ?
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Where Does The Energy Used In France Originate?
Oil
totaling 56.7 million metric tons in 2015.
French oil production amounts to 0.8 million metric tons, corresponding to 1.1% of oil consumed in France.
Natural gas
totaling 509.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2015.
French natural gas production amounts to 0.05 billion cubic meters, corresponding to 0.1% of the natural gas consumed in France.
Coal
totaling 13.5 million metric tons in 2015.
Nuclear energy
384 terawatt-hours (TWh) produced in 2016, corresponding to 72% of France’s electricity mix.
As France generates more electricity than it consumes, some of the surplus is exported to other countries. However, France also imports a small amount of the power it consumes to meet peaks in consumption or to take advantage of low prices.
In 2016
Export : 71,7 TWh
Import : 32,6 TWh
While the electricity imported and exported is mainly of nuclear origin, it is also occasionally generated from other sources, such hydro, gas, coal, wind, solar and other renewable energies.
What about uranium?
The natural source of nuclear energy is uranium ore. Today, there are no more uranium mines in France. The country imports all of its uranium from abroad. Precise data on the origin of uranium used in France are not available, but the world’s five main uranium-producing countries are Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia, Niger and Namibia.
World Nuclear Association, Uranium Production Figures, 2007-2016
Hydro energy
56 terawatt-hours (TWh) produced in 2015, corresponding to 12% of France’s electricity mix.
RTE, 2016 Annual Electricity Report.
Solar energy
8,3 TWh (terawatt-hours) produced in 2015, corresponding to 1.6% of France’s electricity mix.
Wind energy
21 TWh (terawatt-hours) produced in 2015, corresponding to 3.9% of France’s electricity mix.
RTE, 2016 Annual Electricity Report.
Wood energy
In general, the wood consumed is sourced locally. This is because, for both financial and environmental reasons, it is widely accepted that wood should be transported no more than 50 kilometers to its place of use.
Biofuels
The raw materials used to produce biofuels are mainly sourced in France, although a significant portion is also imported.
> Origin of raw materials for the production of bioethanol
> Origin of raw materials for the production of ETBE (an ethanol derivative)
> Origin of raw materials for the production of FAME (esters produced from vegetable oil)
Click on the different energy sources to find out more about the origins of energy consumed by the French.
You use energy every day to move around, stay warm, eat and have fun… But where does the that powers the lights in your house come from? Or the gasoline that makes the car work? Or any of the other fuels that make your everyday life nice and comfortable? How much is produced in France, and in which regions? Find out where the energy used in France originates with these energy maps.
To download the poster (PDF) of consumption in France, please click below.