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Table 4.1:
Reduction target for fossil fuel consumption by 2023, compared to 2012, France
(Source: Decree n°2016-1442, October 27, 2016 on Multiannual Program for energy)
4.2.2 FRANCE
The legal perspective
In France the framework is set by a 2015 law on
Energy transition towards a
sustainable growth
.
This text defines binding targets such as:
\\
reducing the share of nuclear production down to 50% by 2025
\\
reducing final energy consumption of fossil fuels by 30% by 2030
\\
reaching a 23% share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption by
2020, and 32% by 2030 (this target is broken down by energy: biomethane
should represent 10% of gas consumption by 2030)
It should be noted that natural gas is recognised as producing the lowest levels of
CO ² emissions among fossil fuels under equivalent use. It comes with two associat-
ed tools:
\\
the low-carbon national strategy describing processes and tools
\\
the multi-annual program for energy defining intermediate targets
The last replaces all former energy-specific programs in order to ensure a cross-energy
consistency and it tackles each sector (production, consumption, network) and dimen-
sion (security of supply, emission reduction, competitiveness). The first program covers
the 2016–2018 and 2019–2023 periods with binding targets for 2023.
The initial multi-annual programs
Considering the overall uncertainty about the future energy mix, 2023 targets take
the form of ranges compared to the situation in 2012:
\\
a final energy consumption decreasing by 3.1% to 12.6% through further
energy efficiency
\\
an accelerated decrease of fossil fuel consumption based on their emission
factor as a result from the willingness to move away from them:
REDUCTION TARGET FOR FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION BY 2023,
COMPARED TO 2012, FRANCE
Source
2023 LOW SCENARIO
2023 HIGH SCENARIO
COAL
−37%
−30%
OIL
−23%
−9.5%
NATURAL GAS
−16%
−9%
\\
a further development of RES amounting for 24.9% of the primary energy mix
\\
the production of 8TWh of biogas facilitated by national tenders and an easier
access to grid injection for biomethane
\\
a bio-CNG production reaching 2TWh (20% of CNG consumption) through
supporting scheme aiming at complementing electrical vehicles
Beyond these quantitative targets, there will be no development of new coal power
plants (except if equipped with CCS) while the running hours of existing ones will go
decreasing in anticipation of the coal phasing-out around 2023.
Regarding natural gas, the program focuses on security of supply with the possible
revision of existing standards after 2018 while an underground gas storage strategy
and demand-side management (200GWh/d) will be developed. It also maintains the
ban on hydraulic fracking and asks suppliers transparency on natural gas origin.
From a financing perspective the plan anticipates around 10 billion € of public
spending on the 2016 – 2023 period. It also calls for scrutiny of the cost-benefit
ration of any new interconnection project in gas.