France Country Update

Abstract

There is a large diversity of geothermal resources in France, especially low-energy resources, mainly exploited for direct uses or with geothermal heat pumps; France also exploits high-energy resources for power generation in its Overseas Departments and experiments EGS in Soultz-sous-Forêts.
The exploitation of geothermal resources in France has seen several phases: After a major development phase based on low enthalpy resources from sedimentary basins at the beginning of the 1980s, there was a period of withdrawal during the 1990s marked by very little new activity. Since the end of the 90’s a revival in activity is observed for all kinds of geothermal energy, fostered by the decision taken in France to resume an active policy for energy management and the development of renewable energies having. Geothermal energy is expected to contribute largely to the French renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets.