The French government has a long-standing commitment to sustainable energy. In 2015, the government passed the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act. According to Planete Energies, the act set a target of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to 32% by 2030. To achieve these targets, the French government has implemented a number of policies to support the development of renewable energy sources. As a result, the share of renewable energy in France’s energy mix has been increasing in recent years. 

France is committed to continuing to increase the use of renewable energy in the coming years. The government’s goal is to reach a 50% share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035, according to Planete Energies. The French government’s policy on sustainable energy is ambitious, but it is achievable.

France’s Sustainable Energy Goals

France aimed to increase the share of renewable energy in its final energy consumption. By 2030, the goal was to reach a renewable energy share of 32%. The country also aimed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, according to Planete Energies. This means that France aims to balance the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount that is removed from the atmosphere, effectively achieving a net-zero carbon footprint.

In addition, France aimed to improve energy efficiency across various sectors, including buildings, transportation, and industry. The goal was to reduce final energy consumption by 50% by 2050 compared to 2012 levels, according to Planete Energies. In 2015, France passed the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law, which set the foundation for its sustainable energy goals. The law outlined measures to promote renewable energy, energy conservation, and sustainable transportation.

France aimed to increase the share of renewable electricity in its total electricity production. The goal was to reach 40% of renewable electricity by 2030 according to Energy Monitor. The country also aimed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This target was in line with the commitment made under the Paris Agreement.

Renewable Energy Production in France

France has a long history of using nuclear power to generate electricity, but in recent years, it has been investing heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectricity.

In 2021, renewable energy accounted for 25.3% of France’s gross final energy consumption. This is up from just 14% in 2010. The government’s goal is to reach a 50% share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035, according to Planete Energies.

France is well-positioned to achieve its renewable energy goals. The country has a strong track record in developing and deploying renewable energy technologies, and it has a large and skilled workforce in the renewable energy sector.

The French government is also providing significant financial support for the renewable energy sector. In 2021, the government invested €6 billion in renewable energy projects.

The growth of renewable energy in France is having a number of positive benefits. It is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase energy security. It is also creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

According to Energy Monito, France has a large and growing solar, and wind energy as well as hydroelectricity and biomass sectors. In 2021, wind power accounted for 10.4% of France’s electricity generation. It has also a rapidly growing solar energy sector. In 2021, solar power accounted for 2.4% of France’s electricity generation. The country has a long history of using hydroelectricity to generate electricity. In the same year, hydroelectricity accounted for 17.3% of France’s electricity generation. Lastly, France has a large biomass sector, which accounted for 9.6% of France’s gross final energy consumption in 2021.

France’s Policies on Sustainable Energy

In 2015, France passed the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the share of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable transportation. The law includes measures such as feed-in tariffs, financial incentives, and regulations to encourage the development of renewable energy sources.

The country also implemented the Multi-Year Energy Plan (Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie, PPE. It is a strategic planning document that outlines France’s energy policies and objectives over a 10-year period. 

France has implemented various support mechanisms to promote renewable energy development. These include feed-in tariffs, competitive tenders, and power purchase agreements. These mechanisms provide financial incentives and long-term contracts to renewable energy producers.

The country has also implemented a carbon pricing mechanism to incentivize greenhouse gas emissions reduction. In addition, the French government has introduced regulations and incentives to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Moreover, France has implemented policies to promote sustainable transportation, including the development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, financial incentives for EV purchases, and the expansion of public transportation networks. 

Importance of Government Policies on Sustainable Energy

Government policies play a crucial role in driving the transition to sustainable energy. They provide the necessary framework, incentives, and regulations to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Government policies on sustainable energy are important to address the challenges of climate change, promote renewable energy adoption, and drive the transition to a low-carbon future. The active involvement of governments, in collaboration with industry and civil society, is essential to achieve a sustainable and resilient energy system.

BillionBricks adheres to government policies on sustainable energy. We support the government’s advocacy through integrating sustainable energy systems such as solar panels in our net zero homes and communities. To know more about our BillionBricks and our net-zero homes and communities, please email us at hello@billionbricks.org

Sources

1. United Nations. (n.d.). France Statement. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/statements/france-14917

2. European Commission. (n.d.). France. Retrieved from https://energy.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2019-06/necp_factsheet_fr_final_0.pdf

3. International Energy Agency. (2021). Executive Summary France 2021. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/france-2021/executive-summary

4. International Trade Administration. (2023). France – Country Commercial Guide. Retrieved from https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/france-energy-eng

5. En-former. (2023). France passes Renewable Energy Acceleration Bill. Retrieved from https://www.en-former.com/en/france-passes-renewable-energy-acceleration-bill/?etcc_med=SEA&etcc_par=Google&etcc_cmp=Energysystems&etcc_grp=153190501608&etcc_bky=france%20renewables&etcc_mty=p&etcc_plc=&etcc_ctv=652674786900&etcc_bde=c&etcc_var=EAIaIQobChMI9evcxKuN_wIV10p9Ch0XJgVFEAAYAiAAEgL8U_D_BwE&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9evcxKuN_wIV10p9Ch0XJgVFEAAYAiAAEgL8U_D_BwE

6. Planete Energies. (2018). What about the energy transition in France. Retrieved from https://www.planete-energies.com/en/media/article/what-about-energy-transition-france

7. Energy Monitor. (2022). Macron’s climate challenge is to build out renewables. Retrieved from https://www.energymonitor.ai/tech/renewables/macrons-climate-challenge-is-to-build-out-renewables/#:~:text=France%20has%20set%20ambitious%20renewable,in%20electricity%20production%20to%2040%25.