News

Push for exploring geothermal in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France

Push for exploring geothermal in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France Puy-de-Dome, Auvergne, France (source: Flickr/ Mikel Ortega, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 17 Mar 2022

A new initiative was kicked off that is to explore the geothermal potential and bring together partners in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in the South of France.

Announced yesterday, French Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) is setting up a regional animation of the sector to help explore the potential for geothermal energy in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in Southern France. This is done in partnership with the regional agency Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Energie Environnement (AURA-EE) and the Tenerrdis energy transition competitiveness cluster.

In a context marked by the rise in gas prices, the need to achieve significant energy savings from 2030 (-40%, then -50% in 2040 and -60% in 2050), geothermal energy is increasingly being proposed more as a sustainable solution to meet national and regional heat decarbonization targets. To support its growth, the Ademe entrusts a mission of animation at the regional level to the AURA-EE and the Tenerrdis Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes cluster.

AURA-EE and Tenerrdis will cooperate for three years on the animation of the geothermal sector within the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region. Their mission will be to oversee the development of companies in the sector and to support clients, contractors and planners in adopting this alternative. The two entities also make it a priority to train and inform “energy players about this technology and its advantages” in order to facilitate innovation and the development of the sector in the region.

“Geothermal energy has its place in the energy mix of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It represents a non-negligible means of heat decarbonation for both housing and industry. With AURA-EE, Tenerrdis will be keen to support the emergence of the Auralpine geothermal sector and to promote, with all players, local authorities and businesses, the emergence of innovative local projects” , comments Séverine Jouanneau Si Larbi, General Delegate of Tenerrdis.

A first Regional Committee is planned in the afternoon of June 10, 2022 to bring together professional and institutional players in the sector. This will take place on the sidelines of the (French) National Geothermal Days, which will take place on June 9 and 10 in Aix-les-Bains, France.

Source: official press release (pdf)