Will France soon be able to do without natural gas?

2023-06-05T15:02:17.197Z

Highlights: Natural gas accounts for between 15% and 16% of primary energy consumption in France. A relatively stable proportion for more than a decade, after having increased by 44% between 1990 and 2010. The use of this fossil energy, mainly imported, is well established in habits. To what extent is it unavoidable? A difficult substitution? The manager of a French energy company says it is a 'huge challenge' to replace natural gas with green gases. The manager says it would be a 'disaster' if the country did not switch to green gas.

DECRYPTION - The energy transition presupposes a massive electrification of our uses. Replacing natural gas, even with the rise of green gases, is a huge challenge.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the dependence of our economies on Russian gas. And more generally to natural gas. Discreet, less used than in our German neighbors, it is nevertheless omnipresent. Natural gas accounts for between 15% and 16% of primary energy consumption in France (i.e. energy useful to the entire economy, electricity but also industry, heating or transport). A relatively stable proportion for more than a decade, after having increased by 44% between 1990 and 2010, according to the service of data and statistical studies of the ecological transition.

Admittedly, it is far behind nuclear (40%) and oil (28%). But the use of this fossil energy, mainly imported, is well established in habits: residential accounts for 31% of gas consumption in France, industry 28%, electricity and heat production 19% and tertiary 17%. To what extent is it unavoidable?