France electricity generation capacity: wind
France electricity generation capacity: wind stood at 25,789 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed generation capacity | |||||||||||
| Wind | 25,789 | 24,491 | 22,687 | 21,054 | 18,831 | 17,548 | 16,458 | 15,067 | 13,508 | 11,794 | |
| Solar | 30,437 | 24,496 | 19,402 | 16,059 | 13,086 | 10,355 | 9,480 | 8,556 | 7,641 | 6,787 |
Understanding france electricity generation capacity: wind
Summing the cumulative nameplate generation potential of all atmospheric kinetic energy conversion units deployed onshore and offshore, this measure tracks utility-scale turbine installations. The inventory covers horizontal and vertical axis aerodynamic converters hooked to electrical distribution networks, leaving out micro-turbines not tied to official grid transmission statistics. Unlike thermal or nuclear alternatives featuring steady baseload availability, this metric represents intermittent generation infrastructure whose actual contribution depends entirely on meteorological conditions.
Assessing this series requires tracking long-term infrastructure investment trends, as new turbine installations and older unit retirements alter the baseline gradually. Analysts should avoid seasonal comparisons because wind speeds vary independently of installed capacity growth. When evaluating this metric alongside actual generation data, researchers must remember that nameplate ratings do not account for wake effects, curtailment orders, or localized wind resource quality.
Frequently asked questions
- Are offshore wind farms included in this capacity total?
- Yes, both onshore and offshore turbine installations connected to the transmission network are captured.
- How does this series differ from wind electricity generation?
- This figure measures maximum potential power output capacity, while generation measures the actual electricity produced over time.
- What is the best way to analyze changes in this series?
- Year-on-year comparisons highlight structural additions to the wind fleet while filtering out short-term weather anomalies.