France electricity generation: fuel oil thermal
France electricity generation: fuel oil thermal stood at 1.6 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 | |
| Fuel oil | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.5 | |
| Gas | 16.4 | 17.4 | 29.1 | 43.9 | 32.8 | 34.4 | 38.3 | 31 | 40.8 | 35.2 |
Understanding france electricity generation: fuel oil thermal
Tracking electrical output generated by thermal power stations utilizing fuel oil and petroleum distillates, this metric records energy supplied to the grid infrastructure. The calculation includes gross generation from oil-fired steam units and combustion turbines, omitting parasitic energy consumed within the plant gates. Unlike gas or coal alternatives, fuel oil generation is rarely used for continuous baseload supply, serving primarily as a backup fuel source during peak demand stress or gas supply interruptions. It differs from other fossil thermal rows by representing liquid petroleum combustion.
Reading this series demands caution, as activity often spikes unpredictably during grid emergencies or fuel supply bottlenecks, leading to revisions when administrative reporting is reconciled. Annual comparisons provide the proper baseline to distinguish between routine reserve testing and actual emergency deployment. Analysts should avoid treating fuel oil output as a primary indicator of thermal trends, given its specialized role as a secondary backup fuel.
Frequently asked questions
- What type of fuel is burned to produce the electricity recorded here?
- The series measures generation from power units fueled by fuel oil and petroleum distillates.
- What is the primary operational role of fuel oil generation on the grid?
- It typically serves as a backup power source during peak demand stress or gas supply disruptions.
- Why can month-to-month data for fuel oil generation be erratic?
- Usage depends on unpredictable grid emergencies and reserve testing, making annual comparisons much more reliable.