France Géoénergie collective to help geothermal visibility in France

A group of public and private players in the geothermal sector of France have officially launched France Géoénergie, a collective that aims to make the environmental and financial relevance of geothermal more visible.

The collective brings together the French Association of Geothermal Professionals (AFPG), the Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM), Celsius Energy, Equans (a subsidiary of the Bouygues group), Engie Solutions, Vinci Construction, the Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME), the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC), and the Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Transport. development (Cerema).

France Géoénergie is expected to play a vital role in the current efforts of the French government in energy planning. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition, was present at the launch event and indicated that were a “major plan on geothermal energy” that will be announced in the coming days. This plan will accelerate the deployment of surface geothermal energy and assess its place within the next Multiannual Energy Program.

While geothermal energy can cover 70% of the thermal needs of France, it currently only represents only 1% of the heat produced in the country. According to BRGM, more than 90% of French soils should be eligible for surface geothermal operations, thus producing the equivalent of 100 TWh for heating networks by 2040.

The recent geothermal developments in France constitute a range of applications – power production in Auvergne, district heating in Meudon and the communes of Paris, and lithium extraction in the Alsace region.

Source: Bâtiment et Énergie and Actu Environnement