Geothermal in EC

In the last 30 years, France drew the right consequences on development low-enthalpy geothermal energy for regional heat supply. Right now, 200,000 houses are supplied with heating and heat water by utilizing the geothermal resources. The heat supply projects by utilizing the geothermal resources are large-scale, with automatic management, regular in the jobsite and cleanness in surroundings. In order to satisfy the rapid interest on the non-polluted geothermal heat supply among residents, the developer had once entrusted to make 2 sets of cassette video tape each with 13 minute, one for the public and one for children in schools to illustrate the theory of geothermal energy, distribution of geothermal resources in each region of the world and variable exploration methods, and also the introduction of detailed technologies, including scene and cartoon regarding the jobsite and each plant.

The demonstration projects in the EC and 109 research and development projects approved within the scheme of THERMIE should be carried out before the end of 1992, including 42 items for regional heat supply, 11 items for power generation, 14 items for green house, 15 items for industrial and process heating, 6 items for fishery cultivation, 21 items for integrated utilization, which can replace energy equaling 120,000 tons petroleum equivalent unit yearly (mostly for regional heat supply and power generation). Other projects that support the development of geothermal energy include JOULE, ALTERNER, PIM, HORSQUOTA and PHARE.