Fossil-fired thermal plants can be found throughout the French regions. Most capacity is in the Hauts-de-France, Pays de la Loire, Grand-Est and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions, which together are home to around 60% of total fossil-fired thermal capacity. Because they require water for system cooling, these plants are located near water points (e.g. Cordemais on the Loire River).

Fossil-fired thermal generation covers more than 15% of demand in Corsica and the Grand-Est, Haut-de-France and Pays de la Loire regions.

Most of the nuclear reactors in France are in the Normandy, Grand-Est, Centre-Val de Loire and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, which are together home to 77% of the plants in service. Because of their cooling requirements, the plants are located near water points: along the coast (e.g. Paluel and Flamanville, on the English Channel) or waterways (e.g. Tricastin and Cruas on the Rhône).

Nuclear capacity was unchanged in 2018 (63.1 GW).

Nuclear power generation covers demand in the Centre-Val de Loire region nearly four times.