Energy | Expert opinion

What is the Energy Mix?

Published on: 27 December 2022

The energy mix is the share of different energies used (renewable energy, nuclear, etc.) to power a company, activity, or country. It allows us to see the evolution of energy consumption sources and to define and track goals for using less polluting energies.

Summary

> The Importance of the Energy Mix

> The Energies in France’s Energy Mix

> Trends and Evolutions of the Energy Mix

The Importance of the Energy Mix

The energy mix monitors the use of energy sources. It allows for comparison of energy use evolution over time, between countries, and across sectors. There are three main benefits to the energy mix:

Diversification of energy sources
Setting goals at the company or country level
Comparison over time and between sectors and countries

The Energy Mix: Diversifying Sources to Avoid Dependence

There are two reasons for diversifying energy sources:

1. Obligation and available means: For example, it is currently impossible to power a car using biomass. Also, the production and supply of green energy do not yet allow it to occupy 100% of France’s energy mix.
2. The need for independence for energy flexibility: For example, by limiting the prevalence of oil in the energy mix, your company will be less affected by price increases and potential shortages.

Setting Goals with the Energy Mix

The energy mix provides an overview of energy consumption over a determined period. This allows for the establishment of energy production goals with economic, ecological, or regulatory visions.

Economic Goals of an Energy Mix

Depending on the production method, the same amount of energy does not have the same cost or carbon impact. Your energy mix will show you the percentage of “expensive” or carbon-intensive energy you use and what optimizations can be made to improve profitability. Other economic factors to consider include carbon taxes and state aids for transitioning to greener energies.

Ecological Goals of an Energy Mix

The energy mix highlights your different energy sources. It becomes easy to see the share of highly polluting energies, such as coal or fossil fuels, within your usage. This will help identify your consumption areas and seek alternative energy sources to power them.

Legal Goals of an Energy Mix

Finally, the energy mix will help ensure your company meets its obligations and calculate any carbon taxes that may be due.

Contact Dametis to optimize your energy mix

The Energies in France’s Energy Mix

Here are some energies you might find in your energy mix:

Nuclear in the Energy Mix

Nuclear is the main source of France’s energy mix. It is both low-carbon and economical, produced in large quantities, and represented 70% of France’s energy mix in 2019 (according to Planète Énergies). However, discussions about the sustainability of this energy are ongoing, including potential risks and nuclear waste, which currently cannot be effectively disposed of.

Renewable Energy in the Energy Mix

Hydraulic and Wind Energy in the Energy Mix

Energy comes from machines that convert water movement into energy. Wind energy works similarly, using air movement. These energies do not emit CO2 during production. The main challenge is the ability to produce and transport this energy in large quantities.
Nonetheless, they are already the second and third largest sources in France’s energy mix, with 17.5% of France’s total energy in 2019. Hydraulic and wind energies are the top two renewable energy sources in France.

Biomass in the Energy Mix

Biomass consists of plant materials that can be converted into electricity. Biomass releases little CO2 during conversion, which is then absorbed by the forests that produce the biomass, making it a renewable energy.
However, the amount of energy produced by biomass does not allow it to have a predominant place in the energy mix today, as biomass energy costs about twice as much as nuclear energy.

Gas in the Energy Mix

Natural gas is the third source in France’s energy mix, accounting for 7.2% in 2019. These gases are extracted from underground reserves and are therefore non-renewable fossil energy.

Oil in the Energy Mix

Oil, obtained through drilling, represents 4% of France’s energy mix. It is a non-renewable fossil energy whose price is set to increase as available quantities diminish.

Coal is almost absent from France’s energy mix but accounts for 36.4% of the global energy mix in 2019. In contrast, nuclear power accounts for 70% of France’s electricity production but only 10% of the global energy mix. Each country makes different energy choices based on prices and available energies. For example, a landlocked country will use less hydraulic energy.

Trends and Evolutions of the Energy Mix

Year after year, France aims to make its energy mix greener by choosing energies that emit less CO2. Investments are made to discover new green energies and ways to exploit them on a large scale. The “Climate and Energy Act” sets a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This will involve methods to encourage companies to adjust their energy mix, either by incentivizing green energies with bonuses or discouraging others with taxes.

In addition to optimizing your energy mix and the distribution of energies used, Dametis helps optimize your energy efficiency to achieve the best profitability with the least energy possible.

Contact Dametis to optimize your energy mix