Geothermal energy: a new perspective?

The government promoting policy of renewable energies and the recent sharp increase of oil prices may give an opportunity to geothermal energy to develop. A geothermal installation requires heavy investments (60 to 90 millions French francs) but the general energy price is still too low to lure public or private investors, that is why the French government has set a financial help of 400 Euros for each equivalent ton of carbon spared. A pilot plant concerning the thermal tapping of hot dry rocks is planned and will be tested till 2005. EDF has launched a program of promoting heat pumps operating with underground loops where cooling fluid flows in order to recover earth heat. This year about 50 heat pumps will be installed and tested in housing estates. (A.C.)