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| (Courtesy CIA.gov) |
Two permits for geothermal exploration in the Massif Central and the Western Pyrenees were issued yesterday by Delphine Batho, France's minister of ecology, sustainable development and energy.
The licences were awarded respectively to Electerre de France SAS and Fonroche Geothermie SAS. Both projects concern high temperature geothermal areas or over 150 degrees Celsius. Another 18 permit requests are being examined.
Currently, geothermal power accounts for a mere 0.1% of the electricity generated by renewable energy sources in France. Environmental benefits from geothermal energy include near-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
