France electricity generation: coal thermal
France electricity generation: coal thermal stood at 0.7 TWh 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 2012 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 thermal | 18.7 | 20 | 31.7 | 49 | 38.6 | 37.3 | 41.7 | 38.4 | 53.3 | 45 | |
| Coal | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 7.2 | |
| Fuel oil | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
Understanding france electricity generation: coal thermal
Recording electrical output derived specifically from the combustion of solid fossil carbon, this measure tracks generation originating exclusively from mineral coal plants feeding the domestic grid. The scope is strictly bounded by fuel input type, excluding gas-fired units, oil-fueled generators, and all non-fossil sources even if operated within the same thermal station complex. This row isolates the carbon-intensive baseline and balancing power supplied by solid mineral fuels, distinguishing it from sibling metrics that capture fluid fossil inputs or renewable generation.
Reading the series demands attention to long-term regulatory phase-outs and abrupt environmental policy shifts that can alter operating mandates independently of broader energy demand cycles. Early provisional figures for coal-fired production are subject to adjustment as fuel inventory audits and final plant emission reports are reconciled by network authorities. When comparing this output against other thermal categories, researchers must account for differing thermal efficiencies and fuel stocking practices that dictate how frequently coal generators are dispatched relative to gas alternatives. Year-on-year volatility in this row is typically high, reflecting fluctuating carbon prices, grid emergency calls, and shifting economic dispatch merit orders rather than steady structural growth.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include generation from biomass co-fired with coal?
- No, mixed-fuel generation is allocated according to specific reporting rules that separate biological material from fossil inputs.
- Why does this row exhibit high annual volatility compared to nuclear metrics?
- Coal units serve primarily as flexible or backup capacity, leading to sharp generation swings based on short-term market prices and grid stress.
- Are emissions volumes included in this generation dataset?
- The series measures electrical energy output in energy units, not the physical mass of greenhouse gases emitted during combustion.