Find here the data on electricity generation in France, presented either in aggregate or in detail by generation type: nuclear, conventional thermal, hydro, solar, wind and renewable thermal. The graphs illustrate in particular the emergence of new production sectors in the energy mix, with the development of solar, onshore wind and offshore wind power production capacities.
Nuclear
Electricity generation from nuclear power plants in France
- Incomplete year
- Preliminary data
Informations and sources
This graph represents the evolution of electricity production in France from nuclear power plants. Annual and monthly nuclear power production balances are shown, and can be compared with each other.
Nuclear generation was much lower un 2022 than in previous years, It was also lower than in 2020 which has been an exceptional year due to the health crisis. The drop in generation en 2022 is explained by the historical low availability of the fleet during the year.
The data can be of various kinds:
Data from RTE meters and distribution network operators. In order to draw up global consumption or production balances, we need to have an aggregated view of all metering data on the transmission and distribution perimeters. These data are only available on the 15th of each month for the month just ended. Although updates are possible for at least 12 months, the consolidated data is very robust from the first date of availability. Provisional data, derived from telemetry set up by network operators at various points on the power grid, supplemented by estimates for non-telemetered production or consumption. Provisional data provide an initial overview, available very quickly after each deadline; they are not of the same quality as metering data (estimates taken into account, less accurate measurement than metering data, etc.). Graph elements based on provisional data are indicated by a specific pictogram on the portal.
Nuclear capacity availability
- Incomplete year
- Preliminary data
Informations and sources
This graph shows the availability of French nuclear power plants for electricity generation.
The daily available power values of nuclear power plants are presented over the last three years and can be compared with an average vision represented by the envelope over the 2015-2019 period.
- The availability drop in 2022 is due to outages for maintenance and inspections related to stress corrosion cracking, and is particularly wide in the summer as the maintenance operations were concentrated in these months in order to have maximum availability during the coldest periods.
Focus - Nuclear availability and production
- every 12 to 18 months, for a period of around 40 days, for refueling,
- every three to four years, lasting around 3 months, for partial reactor safety inspections,
- every ten years, for a minimum of 6 months, for the ten-yearly safety inspections that determine the plant's continued operation.
In addition to these scheduled shutdowns, unplanned shutdowns also have an impact on reactor availability. Since 2014, as part of the major refurbishment program, shutdowns for maintenance and upgrades aimed at extending the lifespan of power plants have become longer. In addition to the usual shutdowns, in 2022 and 2023 there will be the significant effect of checks and repairs linked to the stress corrosion phenomenon identified by EDF at the end of 2021. The health crisis has also affected the availability rate of the nuclear fleet, particularly in 2022. According to the operator's estimates, published in December 2023, nuclear production could return to a level in the 335-365 TWh annual production range as early as 2025.