ENERGY IN FRANCE Nuclear power, the biggest electrical power supply of France
Electrical power supply of France [GWh]
Fossil fuel
0; 0% 0; 0%
390000; 75%
74140; 14% 61800; 12% 54800; 11%
Nuclear power
7800; 1% 4400; 1% 140; 0%
Oil (all types)/ Natural gas Solar (all types) Water power (all types) Wind (on- and offshore) Biomass Geothermal energy
In France, the largest part of the electricity is produced by the nuclear energy. As show above, in 2009, 390 of the 518.8 TWh produced by our country came from nuclear power plants. Hydroelectricity arrived in second position, just before the fossil energies like coal, oil or gas. It is important to underline the development of renewable energies in France. In 6 years, the use of wind power was multiplied by 20. Furthermore, solar energy appears and biomass power is well used.
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Wood energy and hydraulic power, the most sustainable energy supplies used in France since a long time
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY IN FRANCE (2009) Hot pumps 2% Wind power 3% Urban waste reused 6% Biofuel
Biogaz Residues Geothermal Thermal Photovoltaic 2% of harvest energy solar energy solar energy 1% 1% 0% 0%
Hydraulic power 29%
11%
Wood energy 45%
Like we can see on this pie diagram, wood energy and hydraulic electric power are the most renewable energy means of production used in France. Indeed, hydraulic power and firewood energy was used since a long time. In the first place, France is covered by vast forests of oaks and beeches, a renewable resource of energy. It is a very old and an ecological way of energy production, in particular for the heating. However, people shouldn’t forget that forests must be well managed in order to keep this energy renewable. Secondly, the topography of France, with its mountains like the Alps or the Pyrénées, and the rivers runs through its territory, are convenient to hydroelectric dams’ implantation. Most of the dams were implanted in XXe century and are always used today.
Wind and solar energies, the biggest potentials concerning renewable energy production in France Currently, France develops sustainable means of production like wind, photovoltaic or biomass energies. Indeed, the government facilitates the development of these means of production. It fixed objectives to achieve for 2020: 19 000 MW of ground wind power and 5 400 MW from solar power. However, it has to compose with the problems which they engender: high cost, landscaped insertion, noise pollutions… Furthermore, nuclear energy was developed some years ago, after the oil crisis of the 70’s and the law which fixing the orientations of the French energy policy of July 13th 2005, confirms the preservation of the nuclear power as the main source of electricity in France. Even if it encourages the diversification of the production sectors from renewable energies (wind energy or biomass), it will rest the main resource for a long time with an electric supply security from oil, gas and coal.
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