Le MONDE FRANCE – Crise forces, energy consumption has declined in France in 2009, 5.2% from 2008 to 259 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe). This led to the fall of CO2, a decrease of 5.7% (- 1.2% in 2008). The renewable energy production (heat and electricity from hydro, wind and photovoltaics) reached 19.9 Mtoe in 2009, a record despite the decline in hydraulic handicapped by a lack of rain. Excluding hydropower, the rate of increase compared to 2008 is 6.6% (23% in two years). Read More