France electricity generation: fossil thermal
France electricity generation: fossil thermal stood at 18.7 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 thermal3 | 18.7 | 20 | 31.7 | 49 | 38.6 | 37.3 | 41.7 | 38.4 | 53.3 | 45 | |
| Gas | 16.4 | 17.4 | 29.1 | 43.9 | 32.8 | 34.4 | 38.3 | 31 | 40.8 | 35.2 | |
| Coal | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 7.2 |
Understanding france electricity generation: fossil thermal
Aggregating electrical generation across all combustion facilities running on geological hydrocarbons, this series records total output from plants fueled by gas, coal, and fuel oil. The metric calculates gross electricity delivered to the transmission system by thermal power stations, excluding parasitic power used internally by plant operations. Unlike nuclear or renewable counterparts, fossil thermal generation responds dynamically to market commodity prices, carbon emission allowance costs, and short-term electricity demand peaks. It serves as an umbrella aggregate for its underlying fuel subcategories, differing from them by grouping all thermal combustion technologies into a single total.
Evaluating this series requires awareness of fuel-switching dynamics driven by commodity markets and environmental policies, which can alter generation mixes rapidly and prompt revisions as fuel consumption reports are audited. Year-on-year comparisons provide the most honest assessment of long-term phase-out or reserve usage trends, shielding the analysis from seasonal heating demands. Observers must not confuse this thermal aggregate with total system generation, as it represents only the portion of electricity produced by burning fossil fuels.
Frequently asked questions
- Which specific fuel types are combined within this fossil thermal category?
- The series aggregates generation from power plants fueled by natural gas, coal, and fuel oil.
- What economic factors heavily influence the output levels of these thermal plants?
- Market commodity prices, fuel availability, and carbon emission costs dictate thermal generation volumes.
- Why is an annual timeframe recommended for studying fossil thermal trends?
- Annual data filters out winter heating spikes and short-term market volatility, revealing structural generation shifts.