France is relying on geothermal energy to meet its decarbonization targets, alongside wind and solar power. In 2024, there are over 80 deep geothermal installations in operation and more than 200,000 geothermal heat pumps installed across the country.
There are two main types of geothermal energy:
- Shallow geothermal energy, the most widely used in France today, harnesses geothermal resources with temperatures below 30°C, typically at depths of less than 200 meters.
- Deep geothermal energy draws from underground aquifers with temperatures ranging from 30°C to 200°C, at depths between 400 and 3,000 meters
Do you have a geothermal project in mind? Let’s discuss it today!
An ambitious nationwide objective
Within five years, France aims to increase its geothermal heat production fivefold. Four regions stand out for their potential to support this goal: Île-de-France, Alsace, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine: the geothermal Eldorado?
Nouvelle-Aquitaine alone aims for a production of 3,500 GWh by 2030. Surface geothermal installations, especially heat pumps, are predominant, but the potential for deep geothermal development is also significant.
Despite a widespread decline in groundwater levels as of August 1, 2025, the Aquitaine Basin remains one of France’s most promising geothermal reservoirs. This advantageous position is due to the region’s rich and diverse subsurface, enabling the use of very low-energy geothermal energy and the exploitation of thermal waters.
Today, geothermal energy accounts for approximately 7% of the region’s renewable energy production. This figure highlights significant growth potential amid an accelerating energy transition.
A shared goal, a collective effort:
This potential is currently supported by a strong partnership approach. In July 2024, a partnership agreement was signed between the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, ADEME , and the competitiveness cluster POLE AVENIA . This agreement outlines a three-year action plan (2024-2027) structured around four main pillars:
- Foster the creation of a regional ecosystem to support geothermal development
- Train stakeholders in the sector (both shallow and deep geothermal)
- Promote the various forms of geothermal energy
- Enhance knowledge, secure demand, and support project financing
This regional momentum is reflected in the tangible growth of installations. The graph below illustrates the annual progress of geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy is a strategic driver for the regional energy transition. Thanks to its natural resources and the commitment of public and private stakeholders, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is positioned to make geothermal a leading sector by 2030.
How DOLFINES Expertise Supports Géothermal Operation ?
We believe the success of any energy project, including geothermal, depends on the quality of its operations and execution. Over the past 20 years, Dolfines has built extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, managing complex drilling projects, delivering rig engineering support, and conducting more than 1,000 integrity audits on drilling assets. We apply this expertise to help our clients drill wells to develop geothermal resources safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
Geothermal drilling has many similarities with oil and gas, such as rig operations, general safety requirements, project management practices, and core drilling engineering principles. But it also comes with its own technical challenges. Geothermal wells often face higher downhole temperatures and different fluid chemistries compared to hydrocarbon reservoirs. These factors affect well design, equipment selection, and safety requirements, and call for adapted materials, specialized methods ,tailored systems, and key competencies.
Indeed, the geothermal sector is smaller, and scaling up renewable drilling capacity often requires leveraging the large pool of oil and gas expertise. Therefore, human capital plays a significant role in the success of this industry, and we make sure we work closely with our clients to strengthen workforce skills and performance through targeted training, coaching, and development programs.
Finally, we implement project-specific management systems that prioritise safety, ensure regulatory compliance, and integrate organisational, technical, asset, and human factors. Recently, Dolfines assisted a client in establishing a preventive maintenance system for a geothermal drilling asset, leveraging on proven solutions from the oil and gas drilling industry.