RTE - 2016 Annual Electricity Report

RTE prepares and publishes the Annual Electricity Report to provide a general overview of the power system during the previous year. The 2016 edition of the Electricity Report shows that the effects of the energy transition are becoming visible in France. Declines in generation were primarily seen with oil-fired, nuclear and coal-fired capacity in 2016. Nuclear power generation decreased due to the closure of several plants to conduct tests requested by French nuclear safety authority ASN starting in November. Nearly 20% of demand was met with generation from renewable sources. In 2016, total electricity generation capacity increased by 1,700 MW (+1.3%), to 130,818 MW, on the back of renewable energy development (+2,200 MW), which more than offset the contraction in thermal generation capacity. Annual power consumption stabilised in France for the sixth consecutive year. Increasingly efficient appliances once again contributed to this trend. France's exchange balance decreased due to the drop in domestic nuclear power generation. RTE made further progress in 2016 toward implementing the capacity mechanism, the first delivery year of which started on January 1, 2017. This mechanism requires that suppliers obtain generation or demand response capacity certificates to show that they are covering their customers' annual consumption during peak demand periods. RTE's investments are a reflection of the significant effort that will be required to meet the challenges of the energy transition over the coming years.