A report highlights the climate and economic benefits of renewables in France

Europe 1 with AFP 5:01 p.m., June 01, 2022

The development of renewable energies in France has resulted in significant climatic and economic benefits, which should continue to materialize in the coming years, according to a report published on Wednesday by Ademe.

"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. equivalent of more than 910 million barrels of oil in total", indicates this report commissioned by the agency for the 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 imports of fossil fuels”.

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 finalist in the presidential election Marine Le Pen proposed a "moratorium" on the construction of any new wind turbines and to initiate their gradual dismantling.

"Major interest" in the development of renewables

The study concludes for its part with the "major interest" of the development of renewables to reduce imports of fossil fuels, a topical theme today with the climate emergency, but also the wish of Europe to weaning 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.

“Largely positive” balance sheet

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 of cultivated plants;

however, agriculture is not carbon neutral.

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, around 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.