Why France’s Electricity Mix Matters for Green Hydrogen and Ammonia

France is not always the first country that comes to mind when people discuss solar and wind power in Europe. Yet it holds a unique position in the future of green hydrogen and green ammonia. The reason lies not only in renewable energy, but in the country’s long-established low-carbon power system.

A Low-Carbon Electricity System Built Over Decades

In 2025, electricity generation in mainland France reached 547.5 TWh. Low-carbon electricity from nuclear and renewables reached a record 521.1 TWh, accounting for 95.2% of total generation. France’s electricity generation had an average carbon intensity of only 19.6 gCO₂e/kWh, one of the lowest levels in Europe. Nuclear power remained the backbone of the system, producing 373.0 TWh, while hydropower, wind and solar continued to support the wider low-carbon mix.

This electricity structure was originally shaped by energy security concerns, especially the desire to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Today, it has become a strategic asset for industrial decarbonisation. France is not simply trying to clean up its power sector. It is trying to use an already low-carbon power system to decarbonise the parts of the economy that still rely on fossil fuels.

The Next Challenge: Decarbonising Final Energy Use

That challenge remains significant. According to RTE, France’s abundant low-carbon electricity puts the country in a favourable position to reduce fossil fuel dependence, but fossil fuels still account for almost 60% of total energy consumption. Oil remains central to transport. Natural gas is still used in buildings, industry and chemical production. Many industrial processes cannot be decarbonised by direct electrification alone.

This is where green hydrogen and green ammonia become strategically important.

From Low-Carbon Power to Low-Carbon Molecules

Hydrogen produced by water electrolysis can convert low-carbon electricity into a usable molecule. When this hydrogen is combined with nitrogen, it can produce ammonia. Ammonia is already a key raw material for nitrogen fertilisers. It may also become a hydrogen carrier, a low-carbon industrial feedstock and a potential fuel for future maritime applications.

France also has another important advantage: its power system produces more low-carbon electricity than domestic demand can currently absorb. In 2025, France reached a net electricity export balance of 92.3 TWh, the highest level since electricity trading began between France and other European countries. RTE noted that France exported the equivalent of 17% of its electricity output that year.

For green hydrogen and ammonia, this does not mean electricity is automatically cheap or unlimited. But it does show that France has a strong low-carbon electricity base. The real question is how this power advantage can be transformed into industrial value.

Why France’s Hydrogen Language Matters

This is why France often speaks not only about “green hydrogen,” but also about “renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.” Renewable electricity from wind, solar and hydropower is growing, while nuclear power continues to provide stable low-carbon generation. This makes France different from countries whose hydrogen strategies depend mainly on large-scale solar or wind expansion.

For companies working in green ammonia, this distinction matters. France may not always offer the lowest renewable power cost in the world, but it offers low-carbon electricity, industrial demand, agricultural relevance and policy support for hydrogen-based decarbonisation.

The next question is whether France has a clear strategy to transform this power advantage into a hydrogen and ammonia economy. That is where the country’s national hydrogen strategy, industrial projects and emerging green ammonia opportunities come into focus.

https://analysesetdonnees.rte-france.com/en/annual-review-2025/keyfindings

https://analysesetdonnees.rte-france.com/en/annual-review-2025/trade