France's energy landscape is shifting dramatically, with wind and solar power covering over 18% of the country's electricity consumption in the second quarter of 2024. This represents a record-breaking figure, double the coverage from the same period in 2019. Simultaneously, fossil fuel power generation has been halved compared to the 2000-2020 average, highlighting the growing role of renewable energy in reducing Europe's reliance on gas and coal.

In April, May, and June 2024, wind turbines and solar panels generated approximately 17.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in France, marking a 3% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023. This renewable energy production has prevented the emission of at least 7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, significantly contributing to the fight against climate change. The energy generated by renewables during this period could power the needs of nearly 9 million French citizens for an entire year.

Source: France Renouvelables

The first half of 2024 also saw the addition of 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity and 0.57 GW of onshore wind power to the French grid. Since 2012, France's solar capacity has increased sevenfold, while onshore wind capacity has tripled. Offshore wind is also playing a growing role, with 1.5 GW of offshore wind farms from Saint-Nazaire, Fécamp, and Saint-Brieuc now fully operational.

France's long-term energy plans, as outlined in the latest update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC), aim to install 75 to 100 GW of solar power, 40 to 45 GW of onshore wind, and 18 GW of offshore wind by 2035. This renewable energy expansion is critical to ensuring France’s energy security and achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century, as no new nuclear reactors (EPR 2) are expected to come online before then. Wind and solar remain the most deployable solutions to meet the rising electricity demand driven by industrial electrification.

To meet these ambitious targets, France needs to accelerate the pace of renewable energy deployment. The goal is to reach 1.75 GW of solar and 0.5 GW of onshore wind each quarter before 2030, an increase of 70-80% from current deployment rates.

The renewable energy sector is ready for this challenge. There are currently over 30 GW of solar projects and nearly 13 GW of onshore wind projects in various stages of development across the country. Many of these projects are already connected or close to connecting to the grid, promising an additional 10 GW of renewable capacity in the coming months. The future of French energy is increasingly green.