France pumped storage electricity
France pumped storage electricity stood at -4.04 GWh on Oct 19, 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 19, 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Daily electricity table
| Indicator | 19-10-2026 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumped storage (negative = consumption) | -4.04 | -18.46 | -31.84 | -8.69 | -8.74 | -11.32 | -12.65 | -8.38 | -25.92 | -30.38 | |
| Physical exchange balance (negative = net exports) | -66.06 | -216.24 | -282.67 | -244.17 | -202.5 | -128.45 | -166.66 | -209.67 | -212.57 | -184.41 | |
| Carbon intensity of electricity generation (daily average) | 45.18 | 33.35 | 14.75 | 34 | 33.45 | 31.33 | 20.76 | 28.74 | 22.21 | 15.47 |
Understanding france pumped storage electricity
Net energy transferred through pumped hydroelectric storage installations, where negative values denote electricity consumed to pump water to upper reservoirs, is tracked by France pumped storage electricity. This series measures the dual operational mode of reversible hydro stations, capturing both the power extracted when water flows downward through turbines and the electricity drawn from the grid to push water uphill. It differs from standard generation or consumption rows by representing an internal storage loop that cycles energy rather than producing new supply or final demand. The perimeter covers all reversible pumped storage facilities connected to transmission networks.
Reading this metric requires distinguishing between pumping phases and generation phases, as negative figures signify energy absorption from the grid during low price or surplus generation hours, while positive figures reflect subsequent power injection during demand peaks. Sequential day comparisons can be volatile depending on daily price spreads and grid balancing requirements. Early estimates undergo adjustment when reservoir level audits and pumping efficiency logs are finalized. A major pitfall is treating pumped storage totals as standard consumption, which distorts true end user demand analysis by mixing energy storage cycles with actual economic offload.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do some values in this series appear as negative numbers?
- Negative figures indicate that the facility is consuming electricity from the grid to pump water into upper storage reservoirs.
- How does pumped storage differ from standard hydroelectric generation?
- Pumped storage involves a reversible cycle that both consumes and generates electricity, whereas conventional hydro relies solely on natural water inflow.
- Are initial daily pumping estimates subject to later reconciliation?
- Yes, telemetry readings of power drawn for pumping operations are verified against official reservoir audit reports during routine data updates.