Umair Gaines
Nuclear power is an important source of electricity for France, with nuclear energy accounting for 68% of the country's electricity generation in 2021. France has one of the largest nuclear power programs in the world, with 56 operable nuclear reactors and a total capacity of 61 gigawatts (GW). This heavy reliance on nuclear energy has allowed France to become a net exporter of electricity, supplying power to neighbouring countries in Europe. While there have been plans to reduce the share of nuclear generation in France, the country is now moving towards increasing its nuclear capacity, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing a plan to build six new reactors in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of French electricity generated by nuclear power in 2021 | 68% |
| Number of operable nuclear reactors in France | 56 |
| Total capacity of nuclear reactors in France | 61 gigawatts (GW) |
| Percentage of EDF's capacity that French nuclear reactors comprise | 90% |
| Year France began large-scale plan to build nuclear power fleet | Mid-1970s |
| Target date for reduction of nuclear power share to 50% | 2035 |
| Number of new reactors France plans to build by 2050 | 6-14 |
| France's share of EU clean power output | Over 25% |
| France's total electricity generation in Jan-Oct 2023 compared to Jan-Oct 2022 | Up by nearly 10% |
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What You'll Learn
France's nuclear energy generation share in 2023
France has one of the largest nuclear power programs in the world. The country's nuclear energy generation share in 2023 is expected to be between 76% and 84% of its average. This is an increase from 2022, when nuclear energy generation was interrupted due to extended maintenance shutdowns and weather-related river conditions, resulting in record-low nuclear availability in France.
France's nuclear legacy dates back to the 1970s, following the 1973 oil crisis. The country, which had few fossil fuel resources of its own, decided to heavily invest in nuclear power to reduce imports and increase energy security. This decision has resulted in a substantial level of energy independence and extremely low levels of carbon dioxide emissions per capita from electricity generation.
In recent years, there have been discussions in France about reducing the share of nuclear power in the country's energy mix. In 2017, the French government postponed its 2025 target for reducing the share of nuclear to 50%. However, in 2022, the government announced plans to build six new reactors and consider building up to eight more. These plans were accelerated by the impact of the 2021 global energy crisis and the need to increase electricity supply by "up to 60%" as the country reduces its consumption of oil and gas.
Despite these ambitious plans, there have been challenges with nuclear power in France in recent years. In 2022, 28 of France's 56 nuclear reactors were offline due to maintenance or technical problems, leading to a decline in nuclear output. In 2023, stress corrosion cracking was found in some straight pipe sections, resulting in the shutdown of several power plants for long-term repairs. These issues have impacted the availability of nuclear energy in France, with availability reaching a low of 40% in August 2022 before recovering to 73% in January 2023.
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Nuclear power plants in France
France has one of the largest nuclear power programmes in the world. As of December 2023, France generates roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, with the latest figures from 2021 putting the figure at 68%. This is well above the global average of just under 10%. France has 56 operable nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 61 gigawatts (GW), second only to the 95 GW nuclear fleet in the United States.
Nuclear power was introduced in large quantities in France following the 1973 oil crisis, according to the Messmer plan, named for then-prime minister Pierre Messmer. This decision was taken in the context of France having substantial heavy engineering expertise but few known indigenous energy resources. Nuclear energy, with its relatively low fuel costs, made economic sense in minimising imports and achieving greater energy security. As a result, France now claims a substantial level of energy independence and has one of the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity in the world at 85 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour, compared to the global average of 438 grams.
France's nuclear reactors comprise 90% of EDF's capacity and are used in load-following mode, meaning that some reactors close at weekends because there is no market for the electricity. This means that the capacity factor is low by world standards, usually in the high seventies as a percentage, which is not an ideal economic situation for nuclear plants. By 1988, France's nuclear power plants had a capacity factor of only around 60%, while other countries that had not invested so heavily in nuclear power were nearer 80-90%.
In recent years, there has been a push to reduce the share of nuclear generation in France's energy mix. In 2014, the Hollande administration set a target of reducing nuclear generation to 50% by 2025. This target was later postponed to 2030 or 2035. However, the current Macron administration has announced plans to build six new reactors, with the possibility of building another eight by 2050. In March 2023, France's Parliament formally approved the government's nuclear investment plan, which includes the construction of six new EPR-2 PWRs at three sites.
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France's nuclear reactors
France has 56 operable nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 61 gigawatts (GW), second only to the 95 GW nuclear fleet in the United States. This makes France's nuclear power programme one of the largest in the world. Nuclear energy accounts for over two-thirds of France's electricity generation, which is well above the global average of just under 10%. This heavy reliance on nuclear energy has given France one of the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity in the world at 85 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour, compared to the global average of 438 grams.
France's nuclear programme was introduced following the 1973 oil crisis, according to the Messmer plan, named after then-prime minister Pierre Messmer. The plan was enacted without public or parliamentary debate and aimed to rapidly expand France's nuclear power capacity, using Westinghouse technology. The plan envisaged the construction of around 80 nuclear plants by 1985 and a total of 170 plants by 2000. However, by the mid-1980s it became clear that the plan had been overambitious.
In recent years, there have been issues with corrosion in some of France's nuclear reactors. In December 2021, maintenance checks on the primary circuit of Civaux 1 revealed corrosion near the welds on pipes of the safety injection system. EDF has identified the pipework most susceptible to cracking and has prioritised the N4 and P'4 units for inspection and repair. Despite these issues, France's nuclear power programme is expected to continue to play a major role in the country's energy mix, with plans to build new reactors and extend the life of existing ones.
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France's energy independence
France has long had a significant relationship with nuclear power, and nuclear energy is essential to France's energy plan. In 2021, nuclear power plants generated 68% of France's electricity, the highest nuclear generation share in the world. As of December 2023, France generates roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, which is still well above the global average of just under 10%. France has the greatest share of nuclear power in total electricity generation worldwide. In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for almost 65% of the country's total electricity production.
France's nuclear reactors comprise 90% of EDF's capacity, and they are used in load-following mode, with some reactors closing at weekends due to a lack of market for the electricity. This means that the capacity factor is low by world standards, usually in the high seventies as a percentage, which is not an ideal economic situation for nuclear plants. France's nuclear power plants are aging, and in 2022, a record 26 of the country's 56 nuclear reactors were offline, some for routine maintenance and others for inspection and repairs after corrosion issues. Widespread reactor outages in 2022 resulted in a 24% decline in annual nuclear output—the smallest output in 30 years.
France's present electricity generation mix is a result of the French government deciding in 1974, just after the first oil shock, to rapidly expand the country's nuclear power capacity using Westinghouse technology. This decision was taken in the context of France having substantial heavy engineering expertise but few known indigenous energy resources. Nuclear energy, with its relatively low fuel costs, made good sense in minimising imports and achieving greater energy security. As a result of the 1974 decision, France now claims a substantial level of energy independence and an extremely low level of carbon dioxide emissions per capita from electricity generation, since over 80% of its electricity is from nuclear or hydro.
In February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to build six new reactors and to possibly build another eight by 2050. In January 2023, the French Senate approved a draft bill to accelerate procedures relating to the construction of new nuclear facilities and the operation of existing facilities. The bill includes the removal of the objective to reduce the nuclear share of France's electricity production to 50% by 2035, instead maintaining it at more than 50% by 2050, and the possibility of constructing new EPRs and SMRs by 2050.
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France's nuclear power future plans
Nuclear power plants generated 68% of France's electricity in 2021, the highest nuclear generation share globally. France has 56 operable nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 61 gigawatts (GW), the second-highest nuclear fleet in the world after the United States.
France's substantial nuclear power capacity is a result of a 1974 decision to rapidly expand its nuclear energy capabilities, using Westinghouse technology. This move was driven by the country's substantial heavy engineering expertise and limited indigenous energy resources. Nuclear energy offered a cost-effective way to minimize imports and enhance energy security.
France's nuclear power industry has faced challenges in recent years, with widespread reactor outages in 2022 leading to a 24% decline in annual nuclear output, the lowest in 30 years. Additionally, there has been a push to reduce the country's reliance on nuclear energy. In 2014, the French government set a target to lower the share of nuclear generation to 50% by 2025. This target was later postponed to 2035, and the current plan is to shut down 14 reactors by 2035, with 4-6 of those by 2030.
However, France is now moving back towards increasing its nuclear generation. In February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to build six new reactors, with the possibility of constructing another eight by 2050. This expansion of nuclear power contrasts with the plans of some of France's neighboring countries, such as Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland, which aim to close all their reactors by 2030 or sooner.
The French government's recent actions indicate a commitment to nuclear energy as a key component of the country's energy strategy. In January 2023, the French Senate approved a draft bill to accelerate the construction of new nuclear facilities and the operation of existing ones. This bill removes the objective to reduce the nuclear share of electricity production to 50% by 2035 and instead aims to maintain it at more than 50% by 2050.
France's future plans for nuclear power are ambitious, but challenges remain. The country needs to address issues such as reactor maintenance, aging infrastructure, and public perception to ensure the successful implementation of its nuclear power strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, nuclear power accounts for 65% to 70% of France's electricity, making it the highest share of nuclear generation globally.
No, the percentage of nuclear electricity generation in France has fluctuated over the years. In 2021, it was reported to be 68%, while in July 2022, it fell to under 21%.
France has been expanding its nuclear fleet and has no plans to reduce its nuclear share of electricity production to 50% by 2035. Instead, it aims to maintain it at more than 50% by 2050 and has plans to build up to 14 new reactors by 2050.
