The development of renewable energies in France has resulted in significant climate and economic benefits, which should continue to materialize in the coming years, according to a report published this Wednesday, June 1, 2022 by ADEME.
Climate but also financial gains
“The development of EnR & R (renewable and recovered energies) in France between 2000 and 2019 has made it possible to avoid the consumption of 1,468 TWhep (terawatt-hours of primary energy) of fossil fuels, in France and in Europe, i.e. the equivalent of more than 910 million barrels of oil in total”says this report commissioned by the agency ecological transition. This development has thus made it possible to avoid the equivalent of 426 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Another advantage, financial this time: a saving of “22 billion euros on the French energy bill linked to fossil fuel imports”.
This publication comes at a time when the rise of renewables is sometimes criticized, in particular for the footprint of wind power on landscapes. The far-right candidate and runner-up in the presidential election Marine Le Pen proposed a “moratorium” on the construction of any new wind turbine and to begin their progressive dismantling.
Renewables have a “major interest”
The study concludes that “major interest” the development of renewables to reduce imports of fossil fuels, a topical issue today with the climate emergency but also Europe’s desire to wean itself off Russian oil and gas since the invasion of Ukraine.
This result was obtained by both the development of wind and solar power, which enabled a reduction in fossil fuel combustion for the production of electricity in France and in Europe (via exports), by the development of renewable heat and agrofuels.
The study recognizes in passing that if the balance sheet remains “largely positive” Concerning emissions, the development of certain renewable energies can itself be a source of carbon emissions: for example, conventional biofuels, known as first generation, come from cultivated plants. However, agriculture is not carbon neutral.
What gains in the future?
For the future, over the period of the multiannual energy program (PPE) 2021-2028, 151 million tonnes of CO2 would be avoided in France and in the rest of Europe if France met the objectives of its energy roadmap.
At the same time, approximately 18.8 million tonnes of CO2 would be emitted by the development of renewables, “i.e. less than 0.7% of the country’s total emissions”.
Finally, an additional 6.4 billion euros should be saved on the fossil fuel import bill.
–
