éCO₂mix - CO2 emissions per kWh of electricity generated in France

Greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation in France

RTE provides a rolling estimate of greenhouse gas emissions linked to electricity generation in France, expressed in grammes of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour.  
The indicator on display reflects solely the greenhouse gases produced by combustion operations in thermal power plants in France. It does not take into account the greenhouse gases emitted during the construction of production facilities, or during the cycle of extraction/processing/transport of fuels used. Lastly, the greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour generated in France do not include energy exchanges at interconnections (electricity imports and exports).

At any point in time, the indicator corresponds to the total direct emissions associated with each energy source, divided by total output.

For a given source of energy at a given point in time, direct emissions are obtained by multiplying the output of the source, in megawatt-hours, by its emission factor in CO2 equivalent tonnes per megawatt-hour. 

The emission factor for an energy source is a combination of two parameters: 

• The “primary” emission factor of the fuel (gas, coal, fuel oil, household waste). Source: ADEME Carbon Footprint Database (Environment and Energy Management Agency),
• The average yield of the energy source. Source: RTE’s internal assumptions and analyses, in line with ENTSO-E guidelines. 
   

The assumptions for the emission factors are standardised across RTE’s different reports (including its Reliability Reports and Annual Electricity Reviews).

The indicator’s real-time values are updated twice after initial publication: 

• Over the following months, the indicator is consolidated using available metering data (‘consolidated data’ in the calendar).
• In the course of the following year, the indicator is finalised based on all the metering data (‘final data’ in the calendar).

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