Green Electricity France 2026: VertVolt, Providers, Pricing

Green electricity in France is generated from renewable sources, that is from resources that replenish at a rate comparable to or faster than consumption. Five technologies are considered renewable in the French regulatory framework: hydropower, onshore and offshore wind, photovoltaic solar, biomass (wood, agricultural waste, biogas) and geothermal. All emit very little CO₂ when generating power, in contrast to coal, gas or oil.

One key point matters for any expat newly arrived in France. The electricity that comes out of your socket is physically identical regardless of which supplier you have signed with. The transmission grid (RTE) and the distribution grid (Enedis on 95% of the territory) are unified. Electrons from nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar and gas mix as soon as they enter the network. Picking a green plan does not change the nature of the current at home. What it does change is the procurement strategy of your supplier, who commits to buying an equivalent amount of renewable electricity on your behalf, verified by a mechanism called Guarantee of Origin.

That mechanism, not marketing language, is what tells a real green plan from a green leaf printed on the bill.

According to the 2024 annual balance published by RTE (Réseau de transport d'électricité), France produced about 540 TWh of electricity. The breakdown by technology is roughly as follows.

The total renewable share (hydro + wind + solar + bioenergy) is therefore around 27-30% of French production. Nuclear remains dominant and gives France one of the lowest carbon intensities for power in Europe (around 50 g CO₂/kWh). The Programmation pluriannuelle de l'énergie (PPE) targets 40% renewables in the electricity mix by 2030.

This matters: even without a green plan, French electricity is already very low-carbon compared with the European average (around 250 g CO₂/kWh). Choosing a green offer is primarily about funding new renewable capacity, not about decarbonising your own consumption.

The Guarantee of Origin (GO) is a European electronic certificate regulated by the European Energy Certificate System (EECS). It is the only official document that proves the renewable origin of a megawatt-hour of electricity.

The principle: 1 MWh = 1 GO

1. A renewable generator (wind farm, solar plant, hydropower station, biogas plant) injects 1 MWh of electricity into the grid.
2. The national registry operator (EEX, formerly Powernext) issues a corresponding GO.
3. The GO is offered for sale. A supplier buys it to back its green plan.
4. When used to cover a customer's consumption, the GO is cancelled to prevent double counting.

The cost of a GO

GO prices on the European market vary by origin and technology. A Scandinavian hydropower GO trades at around EUR 1 to 3 per MWh. For a typical household consuming 5,000 kWh per year, that adds only EUR 5 to 15 in supplier cost. This explains why some standard green plans can be sold at the same price as a non-green plan.

Launched in 2021 and now in its fourth version (2026), the VertVolt label is the only public French certification for green electricity. It is run by ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) and distinguishes two commitment tiers.

The list of labelled offers is published as open data by ADEME at data.ademe.fr/datasets/vertvolt. As of April 2026 the dataset contains over 1,300 records (offers and providers). It is updated quarterly.

The label is not mandatory but it is the only publicly recognised criterion for objectively comparing the environmental quality of offers. The Médiateur national de l'énergie explicitly recommends it in its consumer guidance.

All green plans are not equal. The market distinguishes two main models, sometimes with local or cooperative variants.

Standard green (decoupled GOs)

The supplier buys electricity on the wholesale market (mix of nuclear, gas, renewables) and separately acquires guarantees of origin equivalent to customer consumption. It is the legal minimum for a green claim. Added cost is minimal (EUR 1-3 per MWh, EUR 5-15 per year for a typical household). Real impact on the energy transition is limited because cheap GOs do not finance new capacity.

Premium green (coupled GOs, VertVolt label)

The supplier buys both the electricity and the GOs from the same French renewable producer, often via a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This is the model retained by the VertVolt label. Added cost ranges from 0 to 15% depending on the supplier.

Cooperative or citizen offers

Offered by participatory governance structures (Enercoop, Énergie Partagée), these plans directly fund the development of new renewable installations, often at regional scale. The premium is larger (15 to 25% above the regulated tariff) but the impact on the energy transition is fully documented and traceable.

Local offers

Some providers, notably ilek, let the customer pick which producer feeds the contract: a wind farm in Brittany, a solar plant in Occitanie, a hydropower station in the Massif Central. Periodic reports show the production attributed to the contract.

The French market has more than 40 alternative suppliers. Below is a selection of the main green players, sorted by positioning.

100% renewable providers

Incumbents with green plans

The three historical providers also offer green plans, with varying commitment levels.

• EDF: Vert Électrique and Vert Électrique Régional plans with French guarantees of origin.
• Engie: Élec Vert and Élec Vert+ plans, with different commitment tiers.
• TotalEnergies: Verte Fixe plan with French guarantees of origin and price-lock options.

The complete list of labelled offers and their tier (Engagé or Très Engagé) is on the ADEME VertVolt database. To compare current prices and service quality, the Médiateur national de l'énergie maintains a free official comparator at energie-info.fr.

For the practical subscription and cancellation steps, see our guide on how to change electricity provider in France.

The price of a green plan reflects four common components (regardless of green status): wholesale procurement, grid costs (TURPE), taxes (CSPE, excise, VAT) and the supplier margin. The green claim adds only a fifth, marginal component: the cost of guarantees of origin or of the direct contract with the producer.

Ranges are indicative and vary with subscribed power and pricing option (base or peak/off-peak). The EDF regulated tariff remains the benchmark for comparison. Our EDF regulated tariff guide details how the formula works and how it is updated.

1. Check the VertVolt label. Browse data.ademe.fr/datasets/vertvolt. Prefer the Choix Très Engagé tier if the goal is to finance new citizen or local-authority capacity.
2. Understand the type of GOs. Pick a plan where GO and electricity come from the same French producer (premium or coupled). A standard plan is fine if the main objective is price.
3. Compare via the Médiateur national de l'énergie. On énergie-info.fr, enter annual consumption in kWh (visible on your bill), subscribed power (3, 6, 9 or 12 kVA) and pricing option (base or peak/off-peak).
4. Sign up online. Prepare your PDL number (Point de Livraison, 14 digits on the bill) and a French IBAN for direct debit. Sign-up takes a few minutes, no fee.
5. Let the new provider handle the cancellation. Standard switching time is 21 days. No power cut, no technician. The previous provider sends a closing bill within four weeks.

ADEME reports that around 70% of French electricity plans are sold as green, but only a fraction carry the VertVolt label. A few signals help spot inflated claims.

• No VertVolt label. If the offer does not appear in the ADEME database, the green claim relies solely on supplier self-declaration.
• Cheap foreign GOs. Heavy use of Scandinavian hydro GOs with no matching French sourcing contract is a frequent pattern.
• No figures in communication. A genuinely green plan publishes the French share, the technology mix (wind/solar/hydro) and the producer names.
• Not listed in the Médiateur comparator. The official comparator at énergie-info.fr flags VertVolt-labelled plans.

UFC-Que Choisir also publishes annual analyses of supplier transparency. The Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE) oversees the market and receives consumer reports.

Switching electricity provider in France is governed by the Code de la consommation and the 2014 Hamon law. Three key principles:

• Free. No cancellation or subscription fee can be charged on a residential contract.
• No power cut, no intervention. The meter stays in place. Enedis (distribution operator) ensures continuity of supply.
• Fast. Standard switching takes 21 days. Express activation (24 hours) is possible against a paid technician fee.

The new supplier handles cancellation with the previous one. The customer only provides the PDL number and a French IBAN. The closing bill arrives within four weeks.

Tenants

As a tenant in France you can freely pick your electricity provider, without landlord approval, as long as the contract is in your name. The lease cannot impose a specific supplier. The PDL number on the bill is the only piece of information needed to subscribe.

Holiday home owners (résidence secondaire)

Owners of a holiday home in France often opt for a green plan with low fixed subscription fees, since consumption is occasional. Some providers (Octopus, Mint, Plüm) offer plans without commitment, suitable for irregular use. Online sign-up requires a French bank account or a SEPA-compatible IBAN from elsewhere in the eurozone.

English-speaking customer service

English support varies widely. Octopus Energy France runs English-speaking customer service, useful for newcomers. Other providers operate mainly in French; an online translator and a French-speaking friend or relocation agent usually make the experience manageable. The Médiateur national de l'énergie communicates in French only but publishes English summaries of consumer rights on energie-info.fr.

Co-ownership common parts

Provider choice for common parts (lighting, lift, ventilation) sits with the syndicat de copropriété, by general-assembly vote. Many co-ownerships now opt for a VertVolt plan at annual renewal.

Heat pumps and electric heating

Homes with a heat pump or electric heating have high consumption (often over 10,000 kWh per year). Choosing a premium green plan amplifies the financial impact on new producer contracts. Our guide on how to reduce energy consumption helps with arbitration.

"Green electricity is always more expensive"

False. A standard plan with decoupled GOs can be 5 to 10% cheaper than the regulated tariff. Only premium or cooperative plans carry a meaningful premium.

"The grid delivers green electricity to my home"

False. Physically, the electricity received is a blend of all French sources. A green plan changes the supplier's procurement, not the nature of the current.

"Any green plan funds the energy transition"

False. Only premium plans (VertVolt label) with coupled purchase from a French producer actually finance new capacity. Cheap foreign decoupled GOs have a marginal impact.

"Switching causes a power cut"

False. Enedis ensures continuity of supply regardless of supplier. No power cut, no technician, no meter change.