France has once again broken its electricity export record, sending 92 terawatt-hours abroad in 2025. According to the French transmission system operator RTE, favorable conditions – competitive prices, low emissions, and high energy availability – allow for accelerating the country's electrification. At the same time, domestic energy consumption remains about 6% lower than the 2014-2019 average, which partly enables such large export volumes.

Record energy exports in 2025

France exported 92 TWh of electricity in 2025, breaking the previous year's record. High net exports continue, positioning the country as a significant exporter in Europe.

Decline in domestic consumption

Domestic electricity consumption in 2025 was about 6% lower than the 2014-2019 average. Among large industrial consumers, this decline reached as high as 13%, freeing up capacity for export.

Conditions for electrification

RTE indicates that competitive prices, a low-emission energy mix, and good power availability create favorable conditions for accelerating the electrification of the French economy and industry.

Exports compensate for lower demand

Relatively low internal demand, partly resulting from energy savings, allows France to maintain high exports while ensuring supply security.

The French power grid operator RTE announced that the country broke its electricity export record in 2025, reaching a volume of 92 terawatt-hours. This is slightly more than the previous record set in 2024. This data comes from the annual balance published on February 25, 2026. The high level of net exports persists even though domestic electricity consumption remains lower than pre-pandemic levels – according to RTE, by about 6% compared to the 2014-2019 average. In the heavy industry sector, this decline was even more pronounced, reaching 13%.

For decades, France has been a key player on the European electricity market, basing its energy mix largely on nuclear power, which historically accounted for over 70% of production. The level of energy exports is closely linked to the availability of power from nuclear plants, a decline of which in recent years, e.g., due to maintenance work or corrosion, led to limitations. According to RTE, the current market situation creates favorable conditions for accelerating the country's electrification. The operator points to three key factors: the competitive prices of French energy on the European stage, its low-emission character resulting from the dominance of nuclear and renewable sources, and the general abundance of available power. „„Les conditions sont réunies pour accélérer l'électrification de la France”” — RTE, via Le Figaro. The increase in domestic energy consumption that RTE anticipates is expected to stem from the recovery of industrial activity and a decline in the use of gas and fossil fuels in favor of clean electricity. RTE's CEO, Xavier Piechaczyk, emphasizes in an interview with „Le Monde” that this export „represents significant value for the French economy”.

92 TWh — Electricity exported by France in 2025 Analysis indicates that the current high level of exports is, to some extent, an effect of low internal demand, which frees up surplus capacity. The decline in consumption recorded in 2025 partly results from persistent energy-saving behaviors following the 2022 energy crisis and milder winters. Exports therefore compensate for lower revenues for domestic producers from sales on the internal market. For the stability of the energy system, it is crucial that the increase in domestic consumption, necessary for decarbonizing transport and industry, goes hand in hand with investments in new generation capacity and grid modernization.

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