A Historic Record for French Electricity Exports in 2024

In 2024, France achieved an unprecedented electricity export surplus, reaching 89 terawatt-hours (TWh). This figure, revealed on January 2 by Thomas Veyrenc, Managing Director of Economy, Strategy, and Finance at RTE, on LinkedIn, far surpasses the previous record of 76.9 TWh set in 2002. “With 89 TWh of net electricity exports, France marks an exceptional milestone,” he stated. This achievement underscores the spectacular recovery of French electricity production, following a surplus of 50.1 TWh in 2023.

Nuclear Power on the Rise

The year 2024 was characterized by a significant rebound in nuclear power production, a cornerstone of France’s energy mix. After hitting a historic low of 279 TWh in 2022 due to maintenance operations addressing corrosion issues, nuclear production soared. EDF revised its forecasts for 2024 upward multiple times, ultimately projecting a range of 358-364 TWh. This recovery was further bolstered by the long-awaited connection of the Flamanville EPR reactor to the national grid on December 21.

In addition to nuclear power, exceptional hydropower generation and the continued growth of wind and solar energy contributed to this achievement. These collective advancements have positioned France as a key player in meeting the energy needs of its European neighbors.

Broad Distribution of Exports

In 2024, French electricity exports benefited all neighboring countries. Among the primary partners, Germany and Belgium stood out with a positive balance of 27.2 TWh, followed by Italy (+22.3 TWh), the United Kingdom (+21 TWh), Switzerland (+16.7 TWh), and, to a lesser extent, Spain (+2.8 TWh).

This dynamic highlights France’s central role in Europe’s energy stability, driven by its diverse energy sources and the revival of its nuclear power infrastructure.