Fact Check on Wind Power: Odoul’s Comparison with Germany Does Not Hold Up

Paris – 23 July 2026: MP Julien Odoul and spokesperson for the Rassemblement National described wind power as a “scam” in an interview with franceinfo. However, his claim that Germany causes eleven times more pollution than France because of its wind power expansion does not withstand scrutiny. The fact check published by franceinfo puts the gap in power-mix emissions at roughly fivefold.

The comparison points to a real difference between the two countries, but explains it incorrectly. With its nuclear power fleet, hydropower and growing renewable capacity, France has a particularly low-emission electricity mix. According to French grid operator RTE, the CO2 intensity of electricity generation stood at 19.6 grams of CO2 equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2025. More than 95 percent of production was low-carbon.

Germany’s electricity generation has a higher climate impact because fossil-fuel power plants, especially coal- and gas-fired facilities, are still in use. Germany’s Federal Environment Agency documents significantly higher specific emissions for the electricity mix than in France. The difference is therefore mainly a consequence of the composition of the overall power plant fleet and Germany’s nuclear phase-out, rather than wind energy itself.

Wind turbines are not emission-free: the production of steel, concrete and plant components, transport, construction work and decommissioning generate greenhouse-gas emissions and other environmental impacts. These must be taken into account in a full assessment. However, they do not change the fact that wind power produces substantially fewer emissions over its life cycle than electricity generated from fossil fuels.

RTE estimates life-cycle emissions from onshore wind power at around 16 grams of CO2 equivalents per kilowatt-hour, and those from offshore installations at approximately 17 grams. By comparison, the grid operator cites 389 grams for modern combined-cycle gas power plants, 941 grams for coal-fired power plants and 928 grams for oil-fired power plants. The French environmental agency Ademe reaches a similarly low range for onshore wind power.

This finding does not mean that France and Germany are pursuing the same energy policy path. France relies heavily on nuclear energy for its low electricity intensity; Germany has significantly expanded the share of renewable energy, including wind power, but still uses fossil capacity for backup. The climate footprint of a national electricity system is therefore determined by the interaction of all generation sources, grids, storage and electricity trade.

Wind power is also continuing to grow in France. At the end of March 2026, installed capacity stood at 26.4 gigawatts, according to the Energy Ministry’s statistical service, including 24.1 gigawatts onshore and 2.3 gigawatts offshore. The substantive debate is therefore not about the false choice between wind power and climate protection, but about costs, public acceptance, grid infrastructure and the combination with other low-carbon technologies.