Renewables covered 31 pct of French electricity consumption in Q2: RTE

RTE, a unit of state utility EDF, said the increase in renewables consumption was due to a sharp rise in French hydro power generation which covered around 20 percent of consumption during the period.

New Delhi: Renewable energy sources covered 31 percent of French electricity consumption in second quarter, its highest level since the 1960s, electricity grid operator RTE said on Monday.

RTE, a unit of state utility EDF, said the increase in renewables consumption was due to a sharp rise in French hydro power generation which covered around 20 percent of consumption during the period.

The use of wind, solar and biomass power generation, which had never been above 10 percent, also rose during the period, RTE said, adding that lower demand during the quarter compared with autumn and winter, contributed to the rise in renewables consumption.

RTE said it will publish its full report on the French renewable energy sector in September.

France depends on its 58 nuclear reactors for over 75 percent of its electricity needs. The government plans to reduce the share of atomic power in the French energy mix and increase renewable power generation.

Source: reuters