France electricity generation capacity: fossil-fuel
France electricity generation capacity: fossil-fuel stood at 17,260.73 MW in 2025, according to ODRé – Open Data Réseaux Énergies (RTE, NaTran, Teréga). It is one of the indicators in the Electricity: annual generation, consumption and capacity table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2007 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Electricity: annual generation, consumption and capacity table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil-fuel thermal3 | 17,260.73 | 17,472.1 | 17,483.43 | 17,499.47 | 17,604.35 | 18,204.68 | 18,105.12 | 18,108.75 | 18,643.19 | 21,493.35 | |
| Oil | 2,974.17 | 2,991.31 | 2,991.13 | 2,998.49 | 3,175.34 | 3,154.62 | 3,156.23 | 3,204.79 | 3,935.68 | 7,008.43 | |
| Coal | 1,810.5 | 1,810.5 | 1,810.5 | 1,810.5 | 1,818 | 2,978 | 2,978 | 2,978 | 2,978 | 2,978 |
Understanding france electricity generation capacity: fossil-fuel
Summing the nameplate power output across all combustion-based generating units running on solid, liquid, or gaseous hydrocarbons, this aggregate captures conventional thermal infrastructure. The scope encompasses steam turbine stations, gas turbines, and combined-cycle plants, distinguishing them from nuclear and renewable energy installations. Within the broader generation capacity taxonomy, this broad category serves as the parent group for specific fuel subcategories while excluding non-thermal technologies.
Evaluating this cumulative thermal capacity requires accounting for ongoing national phase-out policies targeting specific fossil fuels, which systematically alter the composition of the total. Analysts should avoid treating this aggregate as a homogenous block, given that gas-fired and coal-fired assets carry vastly different operational profiles and economic dispatch costs. Period-on-period changes reflect plant retirements and environmental compliance upgrades rather than seasonal weather shifts.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of power plants are included in this thermal total?
- It combines all electricity generation facilities that burn gas, oil, or coal to drive steam or combustion turbines.
- Does this measure represent actual fuel consumption?
- No, it records the maximum potential electrical output of combustion-based infrastructure.
- Why is this aggregate useful alongside specific fuel breakdowns?
- It provides a high-level view of traditional thermal backup capacity available to the grid.