Solar energy generation vs. capacity in France
France: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 32,461 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in France, 1990–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
France recorded 32,461 terawatt-hours for solar energy generation vs. capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 33.5% on the previous year and up 346.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in France peaked at 32,461 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1990.
That places France 14th out of 79 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in France, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 1.49 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 1.68 terawatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 1994 | 1.88 terawatt-hours | +11.6% |
| 1995 | 2.04 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 2.65 terawatt-hours | +29.9% |
| 1997 | 3.41 terawatt-hours | +28.5% |
| 1998 | 4.09 terawatt-hours | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 4.55 terawatt-hours | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 5.22 terawatt-hours | +14.9% |
| 2001 | 6.16 terawatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 7.1 terawatt-hours | +15.3% |
| 2003 | 7.77 terawatt-hours | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 8.45 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 10.5 terawatt-hours | +24.3% |
| 2006 | 11.91 terawatt-hours | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 18 terawatt-hours | +51.2% |
| 2008 | 42 terawatt-hours | +133.3% |
| 2009 | 174 terawatt-hours | +314.3% |
| 2010 | 620 terawatt-hours | +256.3% |
| 2011 | 2,078 terawatt-hours | +235.1% |
| 2012 | 4,016 terawatt-hours | +93.3% |
| 2013 | 4,734 terawatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 2014 | 5,913 terawatt-hours | +24.9% |
| 2015 | 7,263 terawatt-hours | +22.8% |
| 2016 | 8,165 terawatt-hours | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 8,391 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 10,682 terawatt-hours | +27.3% |
| 2019 | 11,547 terawatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 12,617 terawatt-hours | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 14,806 terawatt-hours | +17.3% |
| 2022 | 18,885 terawatt-hours | +27.6% |
| 2023 | 22,077 terawatt-hours | +16.9% |
| 2024 | 24,324 terawatt-hours | +10.2% |
| 2025 | 32,461 terawatt-hours | +33.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 32,461 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,936 terawatt-hours, 6.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- France's 32,461 terawatt-hours is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,430 terawatt-hours, 7.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. capacity in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +314.3% | 42 terawatt-hours | 174 terawatt-hours |
| 2010 | +256.3% | 174 terawatt-hours | 620 terawatt-hours |
| 2011 | +235.1% | 620 terawatt-hours | 2,078 terawatt-hours |
| 2008 | +133.3% | 18 terawatt-hours | 42 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.18 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 4.55 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.11 terawatt-hours | 5.22 terawatt-hours | 174 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,341 terawatt-hours | 620 terawatt-hours | 11,547 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,862 terawatt-hours | 12,617 terawatt-hours | 32,461 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More energy & mining data for France
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.2519 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in France?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in France was 32,461 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 32,461 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1990.
- How does France rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- France ranks 14th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 346.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.