France generates approximately 70% of its electricity from nuclear power — a higher proportion than any other nation on Earth

 

France built the most nuclear-dependent grid in the developed world — and now it's betting on nuclear to carry Europe's clean energy future.

France generates approximately 70% of its electricity from nuclear power — a higher proportion than any other nation on Earth. Built primarily during the 1970s and 1980s under a state-led industrial programme of extraordinary coordination, France's fleet of 56 operational reactors represents an engineering achievement of remarkable scale. For decades this fleet provided France with among the lowest electricity prices and carbon intensity per kilowatt-hour in all of Europe, transforming nuclear energy from a strategic military technology into a cornerstone of civilian industrial and economic policy.

France's nuclear programme now stands at a pivotal crossroads. Many existing reactors are aging, and the country faced severe maintenance challenges — including widespread corrosion issues — that reduced output significantly and contributed to European electricity price spikes in 2022 and 2023. In direct response, the French government announced construction of six new EPR2 reactors — the most significant nuclear expansion in France in a generation. These next-generation plants promise improved safety systems, greater thermal efficiency, and design standardization intended to reduce construction timelines and bring costs under tighter control than previous large nuclear projects.

France's nuclear renaissance is watched intently by policymakers across Europe and beyond. As the continent confronts energy security vulnerabilities exposed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict alongside urgent climate targets, nuclear's ability to deliver firm, carbon-free baseload power is gaining strong renewed political momentum. Nations that had committed to complete nuclear phaseouts — including Belgium and Sweden — are reconsidering their positions. France did not merely build nuclear plants. It preserved an irreplaceable industrial knowledge base that may prove indispensable to the European energy transition. Sometimes the oldest technology on the list is the right answer.

Source: Électricité de France (EDF), 2024

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