Current State of Exploitation of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Energy in France

Abstract

At present, the geothermal exploitation in France is characterized by sixty plants using geothermal energy for direct heat in district heating. Drilling and connection to networks occurred mainly during eth years 1980-1985. From 1985 to 1990, the research efforts have been focused on detailed reservoir knowledge, corrosion scaling process induced by the fluid composition, methods and techniques for maintenance, rehabilitation of some wells and equipments after work over. Concentrated in two main areas, the Paris an Aquitaine basins, the French geothermal potential is large. The improved knowledge obtained during the last five years spared to the valorization of existing plants will allow a new start of geothermal exploitation. Nevertheless this latter is highly dependent on the international energy context.