France electricity generation: hydro (GWh)
France electricity generation: hydro (GWh) stood at 76.22 GWh on Oct 18, 2026, according to ODRé – Open Data Réseaux Énergies (RTE, NaTran, Teréga). It is one of the indicators in the Daily electricity table (Value · Daily), with a complete series running from Jan 1, 2012 to Oct 18, 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Daily electricity table
| Indicator | 18-10-2026 | 17-10-2026 | 16-10-2026 | 15-10-2026 | 14-10-2026 | 13-10-2026 | 12-10-2026 | 11-10-2026 | 10-10-2026 | 09-10-2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation by source | |||||||||||
| Hydro | 76.22 | 59.29 | 86.25 | 100.12 | 98.26 | 86.06 | 86.9 | 73.69 | 68.38 | 81.85 | |
| Gas | 63.21 | 15.32 | 74.59 | 70.5 | 60.48 | 32.36 | 56.65 | 31.93 | 12.55 | 14.15 |
Understanding france electricity generation: hydro (GWh)
Electrical energy produced by the movement of water through hydraulic turbines constitutes France electricity generation: hydro (GWh). This indicator measures output from run of river facilities, conventional hydroelectric dams, and marine energy installations connected to the public transmission network. It is distinguished from thermal and nuclear sibling series by its heavy reliance on precipitation cycles, snowmelt timing, and reservoir storage capacities rather than fuel consumption inputs. The calculation covers all grid connected hydro facilities, separating conventional generation from pumped storage cycles which are tracked independently in a complementary row path.
Interpretation requires analyzing hydrological seasons, as generation potential peaks during spring thaw periods or heavy autumn rainfall events while contracting during prolonged dry spells. Consecutive day comparisons can be deceptive due to operational water management strategies designed to conserve reservoir levels for peak demand hours. Revisions to preliminary estimates reflect updated reservoir level audits and delayed settlement reports from regional water authorities. Analysts must be cautious not to confuse total water flow through turbines with net electrical output, as conversion efficiencies and environmental minimum flow requirements dictate actual grid injections.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this measure include electricity generated from pumped storage facilities?
- No, pumped storage operations are tracked separately under a dedicated row path to distinguish net consumption from natural inflow generation.
- What causes sudden fluctuations in hydroelectric output from day to day?
- Operators intentionally ramp generation up or down to match electricity price peaks and grid stabilization requirements.
- Why are seasonal comparisons more insightful than monthly sequential checks for hydro power?
- Natural precipitation and snowmelt follow predictable annual cycles that dictate water availability across different seasons.