France already gets more than 95% of its electricity from low-carbon sources—a major achievement. Over the twelve months from September 2025 to August 2026, nuclear supplied about two-thirds of its electricity, hydropower around 11%, wind roughly 9%, solar nearly 7%, and biofuels about 1.5%. Fossil fuels accounted for less than 5%, including around 3.5% from gas. France is also a significant net electricity exporter, helping neighboring regions lower their emissions. Its next challenge is to electrify transport, heating, and industry, replacing fossil fuel use with clean electricity to reduce climate change and air pollution. That transition will require much more electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in France?

The latest figures do not show France reaching new heights in electricity use or clean generation, although comparison with historical records alone cannot establish the latest year-on-year trend. In 2026, electricity consumption stood at about 8,500 kWh per person, around 920 kWh—or 10%—below the 2004 record of roughly 9,400 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation reached about 8,100 kWh per person, approximately 360 kWh—or 4%—below its own 2004 record. This shortfall is concerning: France needs growing clean electricity supplies to support electrification and rising demand from activities such as AI.

Suggestions

France can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding its established nuclear fleet, which already provides the backbone of its clean electricity supply. Extending the operation of existing reactors, increasing their output where feasible, and building additional nuclear capacity would strengthen this foundation. Faster solar deployment would complement nuclear generation and broaden the supply of clean electricity. Together, nuclear expansion and solar growth can help France meet additional domestic demand while continuing to support lower-emission electricity across neighboring regions.

History

France’s low-carbon electricity history shows the scale of progress possible through sustained expansion. Hydropower generation rose by about 28 TWh in 1977, while nuclear delivered remarkable annual gains throughout the 1980s, including roughly 44 TWh in 1981 and 47 TWh in 1984. Nuclear growth continued with substantial increases in 1993, 1996, and 2000; its 1989 gain also broadly offset that year’s hydropower decline. Later nuclear generation losses were deeply disappointing setbacks for clean electricity availability, particularly the drops of about 30 TWh in 2009, 34 TWh in 2016, 64 TWh in 2020, and 82 TWh in 2022. Recoveries in 2010 and 2021, followed by gains of about 42 TWh in 2023 and 41 TWh in 2024, were encouraging. Sustaining that recovery and returning to long-term expansion should be a priority.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Sep 2025 – Aug 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.