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France 2021
…IEA) regularly conducts in-depth peer reviews of the energy policies of its member countries. This process supports energy policy development and encourages the exchange of international best practices and experiences. In 2019, France put its target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 into law and updated its energy transition framework the following year with a new National Low-Carbon Strategy and 10-year energy plan. However, France’s energy transition has experienced significant delays, and implementation remains challenging despite the many reforms underway. Moreover, new European Union climate goals will compel the French government to upgrade its 2030…
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Conditions and requirements for the technical feasibility of a power system with a high share of renewables in France towards 2050
Executive summary France is one of several countries which have pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to meet its climate change mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement. To help it reach this goal, the French government recently published a new energy and climate law and the National Low-Carbon Strategy (Stratégie nationale bas-carbone, or SNBC). This comprehensive strategy for achieving carbon neutrality relies largely on energy efficiency, systematic use of biomass and greater use of electricity.France already enjoys extremely low-carbon electricity, owing largely to its nuclear generation fleet built in the 1980s and the…
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2016 Review
…efficiency. The 2016 IEA review of France’s energy policies highlights these and several other areas that are critical to the success of the energy transition. For example, planned growth of the share of electric vehicles and variable renewable electricity will require enhanced power system operation and flexibility, including demand-side response, smart grids and metering, and more interconnections. The financing of this transition depends upon continued carbon price signals, increasingly open markets, competition, and consumer empowerment in gas and electricity retail markets. This review analyses the energy policy challenges facing France and provides recommendations for further policy improvements. It…
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2009 Review
…buildings sectors increased from 1990 to 2008. Effective implementation of the announced policies and measures will be imperative for meeting France’s international and national commitments. In the electricity sector, the co-existence of regulated tariffs and market prices may impede mobilising the investment needed for maintenance and life extensions of nuclear power plants. The country also needs to boost the flexibility of electricity networks in order to achieve a structural balance between base load generation and increasing demand for peak-load.
This review analyses the energy challenges facing France and provides sectoral critiques and recommendations for further policy improvements. -
Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2004
Energy Policy Review Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2004 The International Energy Agency's comprehensive review of France's energy policies and programmes for 2004. It finds that French energy policy – traditionally characterised by centralisation and strong government involvement – has been largely successful in achieving energy security, environmental protection and economic efficiency. The country must now adapt to a changing European energy context in which competition and an increased international scope will play important roles. Note : Les “Conclusions et recommandations-Synthèse” (9 pages) sont en français dans la publication.
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2000
Energy Policy Review Energy Policies of IEA Countries: France 2000 The International Energy Agency's 2000 review of France's energy policies and programmes. It finds that France tries to achieve three major objectives in its energy policy: security of supply, environmental protection and low-cost energy for its economy and citizens, notably through its vast nuclear programme. The French have been generally successful, in particular in ensuring a secure energy supply – a high priority for the country, which has only minor energy resources. French energy policy is also based on a strong public service tradition, a notion that leads…
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Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: France 2012
In 2007, the IEA published Oil Supply Security: Emergency Response of IEA Countries. This report provided an overview of the IEA oil emergency response system and a detailed look at the specific systems in each IEA country for responding to an oil supply crisis. It presented the findings of a five-year review cycle of the emergency response mechanisms in IEA member countries. Since the 2007 publication, the IEA has started a new cycle of reviews which now includes reviewing gas emergency policies. Rather than waiting for the completion of the current review cycle to renew this publication, the IEA…
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Fuel economy in France
…in 2008 France introduced (and revised on a regular basis over the following years) a “feebate” scheme called Bonus-malus. The scheme imposes a fee on the purchase of vehicles with rated specific CO2 emissions (g CO2/km) above a determined level and redistributes these revenues to provide a subsidy for the purchase of vehicles with CO2 emissions below a specified level. In 2021, the subsidy for LDVs emitting < 20 gCO2/km is a maximum of EUR 7 000. A consumer label that displays specific fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and efficiency class has been mandatory in France since 2006…
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France Natural Gas Security Policy
…gas overview France’s natural gas emergency response policy reflects its position as a gas importer. To ensure the availability of sufficient supply and reduce the gas system’s vulnerability in case of a crisis, public service obligations are assigned to the transmission system operators (TSO) and distribution system operators (DSO), operators of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, underground storage operators and gas suppliers. Due to the high share of gas consumption for heating, French gas demand is highly weather correlated, with average daily consumption that can be more than four times higher in February than in August. France can…
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France Oil Security Policy
Country Energy Security Policy - Oil Oil overview France's energy policy priority is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 by decarbonising the energy sector, and energy security measures will have to adapt to rapidly changing market realities. Energy policies assume steep reductions of oil and gas consumption from 2020 through to 2030 – by 30% and 25% respectively; while electricity consumption is seen growing by up to 46% between 2020 and 2050. France is dependent on foreign suppliers for crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas, but is a net exporter of electricity. It is important that the government continues to…