eCO₂mix - CO2 emissions per kWh of electricity generated in France

Tracking and understanding CO2 emissions per kWh generated in France

RTE continuously provides an estimate of carbon-dioxide gas emissions resulting from the generation of electrical power, expressed in grams of CO2 per kWh generated.

How are CO2 emissions calculated?

In France, electrical power is generated by power plants that use different primary energy sources. These primary energy sources are all of natural origin: they include fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and low-carbon energy sources (nuclear, renewables) that release little or no CO2 to the atmosphere.

The displayed indicator only illustrates CO2 emissions generated by the consumption of primary fuel used on power plants located in France. They do not include carbon emissions generated during the construction of power plants or during the mining/processing/transportation of these fuels.

Last but not least, CO2 emissions per kWh generated in France do not include exchanges of energy at interconnections (electricity imports or exports). 

Real-time calculation of CO2 emissions

An average coefficient per fuel type is calculated in order to provide the most accurate estimate possible.

The contribution of each energy source to C02 emissions is as follows:

• 0.986 t CO2 eq /MWh for coal-fired plants
• 0.777 t CO2 eq /MWh for oil-fired plants
• 0.429 t CO2 eq /MWh for gas-fired plants
• 0.494 t CO2 eq /MWh for biofuel plants (waste)

For energy sources that are not mentioned, their contribution to CO2 emissions is considered equal to 0 t CO2 eq / MWh. 

These figures will be regularly revised depending on technological upgrades to generation facilities and the proportion of different technologies within one sector.