The abstraction of fresh groundwater for electricity production (cooling only) in France has seen a significant decline since 2013, with values decreasing from 5.49 million cubic meters to 2.47 in 2023. The most recent data indicates a year-on-year decrease of 5% from 2022 to 2023. Over the last five years, the average annual decrease has been 6.68%. Forecasts predict a continuation of this decline, with a five-year CAGR of -4.67%, resulting in a total reduction of 21.28% by 2028.

Future trends to watch for:

Sustained efforts in improving water efficiency in electricity production.
Impact of policies promoting renewable and less water-intensive energy technologies.
Potential changes due to climatic impacts on water availability for cooling purposes.