French grid operator RTE said on Thursday net power exports reached 51 TWh in 1H
2026, up 36% year-on-year and 19% above the previous 1H record set in 2024.
Exports were driven by a 4.6% YoY rise in generation—primarily from higher
nuclear output and increased renewables—while domestic electricity demand was
broadly stable. The resulting surplus of low-cost power is being exported across
Europe; France’s large nuclear fleet has also helped blunt the impact of global
gas-price increases linked to the Middle East conflict on domestic power prices.
