The pie charts compare how electricity was generated in Germany and France in 2009, showing both total production from all sources and the breakdown of renewable energy.
Overall, Germany produced more electricity than France, and the two countries relied on different main sources. Germany depended more on conventional thermal power, while France generated most of its electricity from nuclear energy. In terms of renewables, Germany used a wider variety of sources, whereas France mainly relied on hydropower.
In Germany, conventional thermal power was the largest source, accounting for about 59% of total electricity production. Nuclear energy made up roughly 23%, while renewables represented around 17%. Within renewable sources, wind and biomass were the most important, contributing about 39% and 30% respectively. Hydropower accounted for approximately 17%, while solar and geothermal energy were relatively small.
By contrast, France’s electricity production was dominated by nuclear power, which made up around 76% of the total. Renewables accounted for about 13%, similar to Germany, while conventional thermal power formed a much smaller proportion. Among renewable sources in France, hydropower was by far the largest, at over 80%. Wind and biomass played minor roles, and solar energy contributed the smallest share.
In conclusion, while both countries used renewables to a similar extent, their overall energy structures were significantly different.