France publishes list of concrete measures to accelerate geothermal development
France has published a list of concrete measures to support the geothermal action plan which targets a 4x increase in geothermal heating by 2035.
The Ministry of Energy and Industry of France has published a document detailing seven concrete measures to support a multi-year program that aims to increase geothermal heat production, both in mainland France and in overseas territories. This document is in line with the work announced by Prime Minister François Bayrou during the 2025 French Geothermal Days held in Biarritz.
The full document “Geothermal energy: concrete measures to accelerate the development of a virtuous energy source” / “Géothermie : des mesures concrètes pour accélérer le développement d’une énergie vertueuse” can be accessed via this link.
This work also complements the geothermal action plan published by the French government in 2023, aiming at quadrupling the rate of deployment of deep geothermal projects by 2035. Over the next ten years, the government targets:
- 10 TWh of heat from surface geothermal energy (T < 30 °C, depth < 200 meters) in 2030, then 15-18 TWh by 2035
- 6 TWh of heat from deep geothermal energy (30 °C < T < 200 °C, 400 meters < depth < 3000 meters) in 2030, then 8-10 TWh by 2035
The seven measures as detailed by the document are as follows:
- Launch a call for expressions of interest from local authorities in 2026 to characterize deep geothermal resources in little-known areas in metropolitan France
- Reduce the confidentiality periods for certain data relating to geothermal exploration by 2026 to disseminate subsurface knowledge and de-risk projects
- Simplify the procedures applicable to certain surface geothermal projects by raising the maximum output threshold of “geothermal energy of minimal importance” to 2 MW in the fall of 2025
- Define the conditions under which heat storage installation will be able to benefit from “geothermal energy of minimal importance” projects
- By the end of 2025, prepare a decree relating to methods of applying working hours on deep geothermal drilling sites
- Carry out awareness-raising and communications actions on the effectiveness and exemplary nature of geothermal energy among communities
- Finalize the development of the network of regional geothermal specialist facilitators to cover the entire metropolitan area by 2026
The first seven acceleration measures presented are intended to be integrated into the national action plan, which will be subject to biannual monitoring from autumn 2025.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
