Producing renewable energy in France has been a difficult journey. Renewables accounted for 19.1% of France’s energy mix in 2020, significantly short of the 23% target imposed by the bloc’s renewable energy directive in 2009. This is in part due to the country’s heavy reliance on nuclear power, which alone accounts for 78% of its electricity production. On the eve of the climate summit organised by US President Joe Biden last month, the EU raised its climate ambitions, aiming to cut emissions by 55% at least by 2030. The European Commission is now expected to announce in July that it wants to raise the bloc’s target for renewable energies to a minimum of 38% of the total energy mix, requiring an additional effort from the 27 EU countries.