The ADEeF, Association of the
Distributors of Electricity in France

Renewable energies represented 19.6% of the electricity consumption coverage in 2016. Last year, 2188 MW were connected. The wind and solar sectors respectively 62% and 26% of this volume.

In the last quarter, the generating fleet of renewable electricity has increased by 611 MW, composed at 96% by wind and solar connections. At the end of 2016, the total power of the hydro-electric, photovoltaic, wind and bioenergy generating fleet was 45 842 MW and represented 89% of the 2018 target endorsed by the Multiannual Energy Program (“programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie”).

At the end of December, the wind farm reached 11,670 MW, with 1,345 MW connected on the year, thus an increase of 13%. The networks received an additional 477 MW during the last quarter. That is over 60% than in the same period last year. These figures are the best recorded for the wind energy sector in many years, and reflect in particular the effects of the recent regulatory simplification provisions.

With a volume of 21 TWh, the sector’s production remains stable compared to the previous year. This could be explain by the lack of the resources’ availability in the second half of the year. Wind power covered 4.3% of French electricity consumption in 2016. The generating fleet reached 78% of the sectoral targets advocated by the Multiannual Energy Program for 2018. In order to meet this goal, the annual growth of the fleet must increase to 1,665 MW per year. In other words, it will constitute a 24% boost with regards to the last 12 months’ rhythm.

On 31 December, the solar power fleet reached 6,672 MW, with 109 MW connected during the last quarter of 2016. The metropolitan area grew by almost 9% with 576 new MWs connected in 2016. These figures reflect a slowdown compared to the previous period (-36%), as a result of the lack of continuity in the tender process for several years. Nevertheless, the trend is likely to be reversed in 2017 with regards to the winning projects’ connection of the tender process launched in November 2014 and March 2015.

With a production of 8.3 TWh, solar photovoltaic energy represents 1.7% of consumption, which is an over 11% increase compared to the previous twelve months. The park reaches 66% of the sectoral targets advocated by the Multiannual Energy Program for 2018.

The electric bioenergy sector has an installed capacity of 1,918 MW, of which 20 MW were connected in the last quarter of 2016.

In the last twelve months, the metropolitan area grew by 13% with 215 MW connected. The renewable production of the sector increased by 7.4% (6.5 TWh) compared to the previous years. Bioenergy covers 1.4% of French electricity consumption. The wood energy sector achieves the target set by the EPP by 2018 and 75% of the low scenario 2023.

Composed of 25,482 MW, the hydraulic fleet remains stable. However, 51 MW were connected last year, 5 times more than in 2015.

During the year 2016, 59.2 TWh of renewable hydroelectric was injected into the grids, a volume 9% higher than in the previous year. This production increase, with a stable installed base (+ 0.2%), should be related to favorable weather conditions observed in the spring. Hydroelectricity covered 12.3% of electricity consumption in 2016.

To meet the energy transition’s objectives of bringing the renewable energy’s part in the electricity mix to 40% in 2030, transmission and distribution networks will continue to evolve. The evolution is aimed to allow the integration of renewable electricity production while guaranteeing the safety and security of the electrical system, as well as the quality of power supply destined for consumers.

The establishment of regional schemes for connection to the renewable energy network (S3REnR) ensures a long-term visibility of the capacity specifically targeted at renewable energies. They are realised by RTE in conjunction with all distribution system operators, including Enedis, and in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. These schemes are designed to optimize the development of networks and to share the connection costs. For instance, the Champagne-Ardenne Region scheme has already been revised in order to reserve more capacity for these, and a new scheme for the new Hauts-de-France region is in development.

These first results come from the Renewable Electricity Panorama, developed by RTE, the Union of Renewable energy (“Syndicat des Energies Renouvellables” (SER)), Enedis and the Association of Electricity Distributors in France (ADEeF), and will be published in the coming days.