The two pie charts compare the proportions of electricity generated from five different fuel sources in France during the years 1990 and 2010.
Overall, it is striking that France underwent a significant shift towards nuclear energy over the twenty-year period. While fossil fuels and hydropower saw a decline in their relative contributions, nuclear power emerged as the predominant source of the nation’s electricity by 2010.
In 1990, the production of electricity was more diversified. Coal was the leading source at 28%, followed closely by natural gas at 28% and oil at 22%. Together, these three fossil fuels accounted for more than three-quarters of the total output. In contrast, nuclear power and hydropower contributed smaller shares of 17% and 5% respectively.
By 2010, the landscape changed dramatically. Nuclear energy production soared to 67%, more than tripling its initial share and becoming the primary energy provider. Conversely, the reliance on coal and oil diminished significantly, dropping to 13% each. Natural gas saw the most substantial decrease, falling from 28% to a mere 2%. Hydropower remained the least utilized source, experiencing a slight decline to 5%.