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Firms in France highlight great role geothermal could play in low carbon strategy

Firms in France highlight great role geothermal could play in low carbon strategy Site visit at the geothermal district heating system in Villepinte, France (source: EGEC)
Alexander Richter 30 May 2018

A recent gathering in Iceland, organised by ENGIE Résaux, the French Association for Renewables and the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) discussed how geothermal could be stronger positioned in the energy transition in France and Europe.

Last week, ENGIE Réseaux and the French Association for Renewables « le Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables » (SER), in cooperation with the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) and the city of Villepinte, gathered to discuss the French objectives for geothermal energy in the framework of the “Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie géothermie (PPE)”, currently under discussion.

The discussion also aimed to present the position of France in the geothermal market development, and its leadership in a number of technologies. The event took place in the framework of the Public debate on the PPE (which has open on March 19th) and at the district heating plant of Villepinte, operated by ENGIE Réseaux and supplied for 64% by geothermal energy. ENGIE Réseaux and SER chose to highlight the contribution of the third renewable energy source in France in terms of energy consumption, geothermal, ahead of the open days to visit renewable installations in cities proposed from Friday 25th to Saturday 26th of May 2018.

Attending this event, EGEC’s Secretary General Philippe Dumas said, “Geothermal is playing an important role for the energy transition in France. We hope that on 11 June, when European Energy Ministers will meet to decide on the level of ambition for Europe’s 2030 renewable energy target, French authorities and other Members States will agree on the ambitious objective of having at least 35% renewable energy by 2030.”

The gathering took place in the heating plant of the 11 MW thermal Geothermal District Heating System of ENGIE Résaux of Villepinte.

Source: EGEC