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Summary
The global electricity market has seen structural growth in both volume and value since 2020, driven by the global demand for electricity, population growth, construction sector dynamism, and development of emerging countries. Electricity capacity, production, and consumption all increased during this period, with power generation revenues hitting $1,614 billion in 2021, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. The market is projected to reach $2,462 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%, and could further expand to $3,982 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 10.1%. The Asia-Pacific region comprised the largest market share at 42%, while Western Europe held a 23% share. Major companies in the sector are primarily European and American, with the top seven revenue-earning utilities hailing from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
Electricity Market Dynamics in France: Trends and Insights
The French electricity market is undergoing significant change, influenced by competitive forces, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer preferences. The opening to competition in 2007 allowed alternative suppliers to challenge the incumbents like EDF, leading to a more dynamic market landscape. With the continuous growth in demand, the French electricity market has maintained a stable volume with over 500 billion kilowatt-hours produced in 2021, with consumption trailing slightly behind at approximately 450 billion kilowatt-hours. Despite overall electricity consumption showing signs of stagnancy, market sales are on the upward trajectory, mostly attributed to the increasing electricity prices, partly as a result of the country's commitment to energy transition towards greener and more efficient technologies.
France's electricity market has not only thrived in volume but also in value, estimated to be between €100 and €110 billion by 2021. The residential sector is responsible for nearly 40% of electricity consumption, indicative of its pivotal role in the marketplace. Households prioritize heating, cooling, and information technology in their electricity use. However, cost remains a dominant factor influencing consumer choice, with a significant percentage of the population expressing concerns over rising electricity prices and declaring a willingness to adopt energy-saving measures. Business and professional usage, including SMEs and the tertiary sector, account for a larger share of electricity demand compared to major industries. Yet, it's noteworthy that certain industrial activities, such as metallurgy, food, and chemical industries, are among the top consumers in their segment.
This evolving market is characterized by varying customer preferences, such as a growing trend towards offers with fixed commitment periods and demand for energy monitoring equipment. Despite the efforts to liberalize the market, incumbent suppliers still retain a large market share; however, the number of households supplied by alternative suppliers is gradually increasing. On the distribution and transmission front, monopolistic entities manage the networks with RTE handling the transmission and Enedis in charge of distribution. Despite a decline in activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly impacting industrial electricity demand, the transition to renewable energy sources continues to reshape the French electricity landscape, with the share of renewables in the energy mix increasing significantly.
In conclusion, France’s electricity market is characterized by sustained market value growth, stable consumption volumes, a shift towards renewable energy sources, and an increasing consumer preference for competitive pricing and innovative offerings. With these factors at play, the market maintains a prominent position in the energy sector, marked by both stability and adaptability.
Navigating the Currents of France's Evolving Electricity Landscape
As France's electricity market continues to evolve amidst the undercurrents of competition, regulation, and innovation, several key players have emerged, each playing a pivotal role within different segments of the market. Understanding the major companies involved provides insight into how the electrical energy sector in France operates and the services it delivers to customers across the nation. Here's a closer look at the primary market participants:
- EDF (Électricité de France) EDF stands as a colossus in the French electricity market, once holding a virtual monopoly before the market's deregulation. Even with liberalization, EDF retains a substantial presence across multiple areas of the electricity value chain. From generation to supply, EDF remains a dominant force, operating a fleet of nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable energy plants, and it still caters to a significant customer base with regulated tariffs. EDF's subsidiaries, RTE and Enedis, manage the country's transmission and distribution networks, respectively, each holding monopoly positions within their segments.
- Entreprises Locales de Distribution (ELD) Operating alongside giants like EDF, the ELDs maintain a localized presence, servicing specific territories within France. These local distribution companies, while comparatively smaller, are significant in that they offer refined, customer-centric services to their communities and present a remnant of the pre-liberalized market structure.
- Engie As one of the world's leading energy providers, Engie has made its mark in the French market as both a generator and supplier of electricity. Boasting a global footprint, Engie has diversified its offerings in France to include a mix of nuclear, renewable, and fossil energy sources. Through its market offers, Engie provides an alternative to the traditionally regulated tariffs and emphasizes green energy options for environmentally conscious consumers.
- Total Direct Énergie As the leading alternative supplier, Total Direct Énergie, comes forth as a formidable challenger in the market, focusing on residential and business sectors with competitive market offers. Their acquisition by Total has amplified their strength, allowing them to leverage a broader energy portfolio and compete aggressively for market share by promising innovation and customer-focused services.
- Alpiq and Uniper These suppliers might not have the same historical root or market might as EDF or Engie, but they carve out their niche by offering specialized services and market offers that are tailored to meet the needs of large and medium-sized consumers. Their strategies often target more specific and sometimes sophisticated client bases within the French market.
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- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 07/10/2022
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definitions
Electricity is a form of energy that can be produced in a variety of ways, and is used to power electrical appliances and devices. The electricity market is organized around four main areas: generation, supply, transmission and distribution.
On July 1, 2007, the French electricity and natural gas markets were fully opened up to competition. This enabled new players to enter the market and compete with incumbent leaders such as EDF, which held a virtual monopoly on its own (some local public companies were nevertheless authorized to continue operating as Entreprises Locales de Distribution (ELD)).
To enable free competition, it was necessary to separate the activities. As EDF was involved from generation to supply of electricity, it was necessary to separate the different activities in order to open up certain parts to competition. From this, 4 activities emerged:
- generation: the power plants that produce electricity
- transmission : the transport of the electricity produced, high voltage
- distribution: the second part of transport, from low voltage to the distribution of this electricity to the various points of use
- sale or supply : the wholesale purchase of electricity, followed by resale at the various points of consumption
In France, electricity transmission still operates as a monopoly and is handled by RTE (Commission de Régulation de l'Energie), an EDF subsidiary. Electricity distribution is also close to a monopoly, as it is mainly handled by Enedis, another EDF subsidiary, but also by other local distribution companies.
Electricity generation and supply, on the other hand, are open to competition. Several companies are involved in both activities, including EDF, Direct Energie and Engie.
Sales in the French electricity market are on the rise, even though electricity consumption is stagnating. Electricity production reached 531 billion kilowatt-hours in 2021. This situation is mainly due to rising electricity prices. While opening up to competition was supposed to bring prices down, rising costs and limited access to raw materials have led to higher tariffs.
This rise in prices has been reinforced by the development of green energies and more efficient, environmentally-friendly offerings. Indeed, the energy transition has become the central issue for the sector, and represents a potential for future growth.
List of charts
- Global electricity capacity, production and consumption
- Global power generation market
- World electricity demand by region
- Top 10 largest utilities based on 2021 revenues
- French electricity generation by energy source
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Latest news
Engie New Ventures bets on Upstream Tech, a start-up specializing in water management - 16/12/2023
- Creation of ENGIE New Ventures (ENV): 2014
- Total amount invested by ENV: Over 250 million euros
- ENV investment areas from 2020: Biogas, hydrogen, renewable energies and decarbonization
- Upstream Tech creation date: 2016
- Upstream Tech headquarters: Massachusetts, USA
- Number of Upstream Tech employees: Around 30
- Power of ENGIE's hydroelectric fleet worldwide: 18 gigawatts, equivalent to 18 nuclear reactors.
Install 11,000 charging stations in France in two years - 18/06/2023
- Engie Vianeo electric mobility brand
- 12,000 electric charging points planned in France by 2025
- 1,000 charging points already deployed
- 800 fast and ultra-fast charging points on APRR, SANEF, Vinci Autoroutes and ESSO motorway networks (Certas Energy France)
- Presence in 35 Indigo parking lots in 20 cities, Eurométropole de Strasbourg, Communauté d'Agglomération d'Epinal, Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, B & B Hotels parking lots and Norauto sites
- 4,500 fast and ultra-fast charging points (less than 20 minutes charging time).
- electricity from renewable sources (hydro, wind and solar)
- French national target of 400,000 charging points by 2030
Solar panels: Enel builds a gigafactory to break away from China - 07/02/2023
- Investment of €600 million
- 15-fold increase in annual production capacity at its photovoltaic panel plant in Catania, Sicily
- The Italian plant will then overtake that of the Swiss Meyer Burger group in Freiberg, eastern Germany, with an annual capacity of 400 megawatts - eventually to be increased to 1 gigawatt
- Its subsidiary Enel Green Power has increased its worldwide renewable energy capacity to 59 gigawatts by 2022
Arkema signs major biomethane purchase agreement with Engie - 20/01/2023
- Purchase of 300 gigawatt-hours of energy per year over 10 years
- This contract, billed as one of the largest private biomethane contracts in Europe to date, is a major step forward for the energy giant
- This low-carbon gas comes from 17 methanization sites, notably on farms, across France, whose production the energy giant buys for resale
- France has 500 biogas plants connected to the gas distribution network
- This sector accounts for 2% of national gas consumption, and is growing fast
Energy, debt and Enel are the new Rome. - 23/11/2022
- The Group to sell part of its geographic expansion for 21 billion euros
Engie boosts its offshore wind portfolio by winning two projects in Scotland | Engie adds two new offshore wind projects to its portfolio by winning them in Scotland. - 23/08/2022
- Ocean Winds, the joint venture between Engie and its Portuguese partner EDPR, has won a tender to build and operate two Scottish offshore wind projects
- At a depth of 100 meters, they will require floating wind technology
- The larger project, which will generate 1.8 GW, will be sufficient to supply 2 million homes with electricity.
- The investment would be around 1.4 billion euros
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