Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: France
| Location: | Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain,0 |
| Climate: | generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral |
| Terrain: | mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east |
| Size: | 547030 sq. km total (Land area: 545630 sq. km Water area: 1400 sq.km) |
| Population: | 60,876,136 in metropolitan France (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) |
| Government: | republic |
| Capital city: | Paris |
| Legal system: | civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
In 2004, France consumed 11.2 quadrillion Btu of total energy. Nuclear energy was the largest share, representing 39 percent, followed by oil (36 percent), natural gas (16 percent) and hydroelectricity (5 percent). France is the second-largest producer of nuclear power in the world, after the United States, however, nuclear energy is a much larger share of France’s total energy consumption than the United States (8 percent in 2004).
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 73,180 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 1 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Consumption: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Exports: | 474,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 863 million cu m (2004 est.) |
| Imports: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 47 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
| Reserves: | 158 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 341 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
France - recent news
| 28 Sep 23 |
France: Q ENERGY starts constructing one of the biggest battery energy storage projects in France Q ENERGY has announced the construction start of the 'Merbette' energy storage project on the Emile Huchet power plant site in the French town of Saint-Avold. Once commissioned, it will be one of the largest facilities in the country. |
| 20 Sep 23 |
France: Q ENERGY starts construction of Europe's largest floating solar farm Q ENERGY has announced the construction of 'Les Ilots Blandin' solar farm in the northwest of France. The solar farm will be built on the site of a former quarry in the Haute-Marne region of France. With 74.3 MW it is the biggest floating PV project in Europe to date. Provisional commissioning is planned for the first quarter of 2025. |
| 14 Sep 23 |
France: TotalEnergies and Air Liquide join forces on green hydrogen to decarbonize the Normandy platform TotalEnergies and Air Liquide have signed an agreement for the long-term supply of green and low carbon hydrogen to the TotalEnergies refining and petrochemical platform in Normandy. The project will contribute to the decarbonization of the Gonfrevillle site, reducing its CO2 emissions by up to 150,000 tons a year. |
| 11 Jul 23 |
France: Innosea secures jack-up analysis work for French offshore wind farm Innosea – part of OWC, the renewable energy consultants – has been contracted by DEME to assess the operability of its Innovation jack-up vessel for the construction of France’s Iles d’Yeu and Noirmoutier offshore wind farm. |
| 09 Jul 23 |
France: First power from Iberdrola’s Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France The first green megawatts produced from Iberdrola’s Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm have been connected into the French national electricity grid by its manager, RTE. The project is Iberdrola’s first in France, and only the second offshore wind project to produce power in the country. |
France - more news
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