The line graph compares the generation of electricity in France from thermal, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable sources between 1980 and 2012.
Overall, it is obvious that nuclear energy was the primary source of electricity production, witnessing a dramatic increase over the period, while thermal energy experienced a moderate decline. Besides, the generation of electricity from hydroelectric power remained relatively stable, and renewables showed a slight growth in the later years.
In 1980, the amount of electricity generated from thermal and nuclear energy was 120 TW-h and 70 TW-h respectively. However, by 1985, nuclear output had soared to approximately 250 TW-h, overtaking all other sources. This upward trend continued, reaching its peak at around 430 TW-h in 2005 before fluctuating slightly and finishing at around 410 TW-h at the end of the period.
In contrast, thermal production declined sharply, falling from approximately 120 TW-h to about 50 TW-h in 1985, then fluctuated between 45 TW-h and 50 TW-h through the rest of the period and finished at 50 TW-h. Additionally, the figure for hydroelectric energy remained stable, fluctuating mildly in the range from 50 TW-h to 70 TW-h, and stood at over 50 TW-h in 2012.
Renewables contributed nearly nothing until about 2005, when production of electricity by renewable energy witnessed a gradual rise, reaching approximately 50 TW-h by 2012. Despite this growth, it still remained the lowest contributor to the total amount of electricity being produced through the period.