Wind Energy in France
2022 wind energy numbers
In 2022, France installed around 1.4 GW of new wind capacity onshore and 0.5 GW of capacity offshore, raising the country’s total wind power capacity to 20.9 GW [1].
Although the newly installed 1.4 GW of onshore wind power capacity surpassed the capacity installed in 2021, an additional 3.7 GW is still needed to reach the target of 24.1 GW set for next year. Regarding offshore wind power capacity, 1.9 GW in additional capacity is needed to achieve the goal of 2.4 GW set for 2023. Wind and solar power capacities jointly represented 56% of France’s renewable power capacity. Wind power alone represented one-third of total renewable electricity production and 8.3% of national electricity demand. The total annual wind power energy output was 37.9 TWh, indicating a moderate increase of 3% from 2021. Due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, the capacity factor in 2022 was 21.6% [2], the lowest recorded in the last ten years.
To learn more about France’s wind energy sector, please read their chapter in the IEA Wind TCP 2022 Annual Report.
National Targets
The Pluriannual Energy Programme (Programmation Pluriannuelle de l’Energie, PPE) requires renewable energy sources to contribute more than 33% of gross energy consumption in 2030 [3]. By this date, renewable energies must represent the following:
- 40% of electricity production.
• 38% of final heat consumption.
• 15% of final fuel consumption.
• 10% of gas consumption.These national objectives are consistent with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The policy enacting the PPE was published on the 21st of April, 2020, alongside updated wind power capacity targets for 2023 and 2028. For 2023, targets of 24.1 GW for onshore wind power capacity and 2.4 GW in fixed-bottom offshore wind power are set. To reach these targets, 3.2 GW of new onshore capacity and 1.9 GW of new offshore capacity must be installed in 2023.
Progress & Operational Details
Total renewable power capacity reached 65 GW at the end of 2022, of which wind energy provided approximately 32% of France’s overall installed renewable power capacity. Wind and solar jointly represent 56% of the total capacity, where wind represents the second largest renewable energy source after hydroelectricity, accounting for 26 GW. The total renewable electricity produced was 117 TWh, representing around 26% of the total consumption in 2022. Wind contributed 31% of total renewable energy production, equalling 8.3% of total electricity consumption.
National RDD Priorities and Budget
Developing offshore wind and large wind turbine technology has recently been a priority.
The French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) is the driving funding agency for applied RD&D projects in this area. ADEME finances and administers three kinds of projects: Ph.D theses, R&D projects for intermediate technology readiness levels (TRL), and industrial projects funded by subsidies, refundable aids, and possibly equity.
As part of the France 2030 investment plan, jointly implemented by ADEME, the National Research Agency (ANR), Bpifrance and the Banque des Territoires, the national “Advanced Technologies for Energy Systems” (TASE) strategy was announced in February 2022. Support of nearly 1 billion euros aims to foster innovative solutions in the field of photovoltaics, floating wind power and energy networks. Furthermore, accelerating the industrialisation of renewable energies is planned. Three calls for projects were made by ADEME in 2022 and are open until October 2023. Among the selected topics, floating wind technology is prioritised.