France dominated electricity imports worldwide in 2022, totaling 16,779 million dollars, an increase of 320% at an annual rate, according to data from the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes.
For the first time since 1980, this country’s balance of trade in electric energy was negative, at -7,751 million dollars.
To a greater extent, its imports were from Spain (US$4,224 million, up 311% year-on-year) and the United Kingdom (US$3,891 million, up 1,000%).
Their net balance, in volume terms, was 16.5 TWh, representing just under 4% of national electricity consumption.
A TWh (terawatt-hour) is a unit of energy equivalent to 1 trillion watt-hours (1012 Wh).
Overall, France was an importer every month of the year, with two exceptions: in February 2022 (when the balance was an exporter thanks to abundant wind generation and high temperatures), and in May 2022 (when the balance was close to equilibrium).
According to the annual electricity report presented last February 16 by the RTE transmission grid manager, the trade balance increased especially in summer, a period when France is usually a major exporter: the months of July, August and September alone accounted for 60% of the negative balance, i.e. 10 TWh of imports.
Electricity
This is a direct consequence of the historically low availability of nuclear power and lower hydroelectric generation (a result of the spring and summer drought that affected Europe) during this period.
The fact that France imports during tense winter periods is normal and is explained by the high temperature sensitivity of French consumption.
In 2022, this trend was accentuated by the reduction in domestic production.
Even so, France has been able to take advantage of economic outlets to export its production (mainly nuclear and renewable) in less stressful periods, such as during the month of February or the second half of December.
At the same time, electricity production literally collapsed from 522 to 445 TWh. A drop of close to 15% following the setbacks of the national nuclear fleet and the drought that impacted the production of hydroelectric power plants.
Other exporters of electricity to France in 2022 were Belgium ($3,479 million, +198%), Germany ($3,153 million, +321%) and Switzerland ($1,812 million, +215 percent).