| Keywords |
Geothermal energy, review, resources, district heating, electricity production, Hot Dry Rock, perspectives, France |
| Abstract |
The expansion of geothermal energy in France began as the result of the energy crisis in the 1970s, with an important development of activity from 1978 to 1987, when the energy prices fell. During this period, more than 70 geothermal district heating plants using lowenthalpy resources were set up and researches were initiated into the field of Hot Dry Rock (HDR). In addition to these two major activities, other actions were carried out, such as: 0 promotion of ground water heat pumps for building heating, prospecting of high-enthalpy resources in the French Overseas Departments, implementation of plants using low-enthalpy resources for fish farming and greenhouse heating. In the early 199Os, in view of the cheap energy prices, the authorities decided to progressively reduce their financial support for the promotion of renewable energies. Nevertheless, they maintained support for two priorities as regards geothermal energy: resolving the scaling and corrosion problems affecting the geothermal district heating plants located in the Paris region and the continuation of the HDR research programme. In 1997, with the Greens being elected into the French Parliament and with the necessity of controlling C02 emissions following the recommendations announced during Kyoto Conference, the French authorities once again began to express their interest in renewable energies and energy management. In 1998 they decided to increase their financial support for these activities. An active policy managed by ADEME was set up and became in operation in the beginning of 1999 with the following priorities being planned for geothermal energy: - continuation of the HDR programme, - dissemination of ground-source heat-pump technologies, - development in the use of high-enthalpy resources in the French Overseas Departments, - development in the use of low-enthalpy resources with an extension of the existing geothermal district heating plants to new consumers. |