France will reach a record level of renewable electricity capacity in 2021, mainly thanks to solar

Hydroelectricity, wind, solar, bioenergies ... The power of the renewable electricity fleet amounted to 2021 megawatts (MW) at the end of 59.781, indicates the Panorama of renewable electricity, drawn up by the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables, RTE, Enedis and l ORE Agency (Energy Network Operators).

The country gained nearly 4 additional gigawatts last year.

The power of the solar park amounts to 13.067 MW. In 2021, it gained 2.687 MW, a level three times higher than in 2020 and a particularly marked boom in the last quarter. We will have to do even better over the next two years, if the country wants to meet its objective set in the law (20.100 MW by the end of 2023).

In wind power, 1.202 MW have been connected, while onshore since the commissioning of the first offshore farm is expected in April 2022, off Saint-Nazaire. This is a slight rebound from the low point of 2020, but far from France's energy roadmap, which targets 24.100 MW at the end of 2023 (18.783 MW today).

Last year, renewable energies covered up to 25% of electricity consumption in mainland France.

This drop of two points compared to the previous year is due to a slight drop in renewable production (117,5 TWh compared to 121,2 TWh in 2020) and higher electricity consumption than in 2020, a year affected by the confinements due to Covid-19.

The hydroelectric fleet is stable with an installed capacity of 25.718 MW, the same level as in 2020 despite commissioning intended to compensate for the end of life of certain installations.

The electric bioenergy sector for its part reached a power of 2.213 MW, with 63 MW of new capacity.

The Energy-Climate Law sets a target of 40% renewable energies in the electricity production mix by 2030.