Superhot Rock Geothermal in France

The document highlights that just 1% of France's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 227 GW of energy capacity, exceeding the country's 2021 electricity demand. It argues that this technology could replace all coal and gas used for electricity production, reducing emissions by approximately 36 megatonnes of CO2eq and enhancing energy independence. Additionally, it notes the technology's low land footprint compared to other energy sources and its ability to provide reliable 24/7 power to the grid.

• Preliminary modelling indicates that France possesses significant superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of this resource could provide 227 GW of energy capacity and generate over 1,888,125 GWh of electricity.
• Superhot rock geothermal could improve France's energy security by replacing fossil fuel imports, as the country currently imports all of its natural gas and 73% of its coal.
• The technology is highly energy-dense with a low land-use footprint; producing 1 GW of superhot rock geothermal requires approximately 12 km² of land, which is significantly less than the land required for natural gas (160 km²), solar (180 km²), offshore wind (520 km²), or biomass (14,000 km²).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in France. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144732/France-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in France. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144732/France-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in France |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144732/France-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in France}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144732/France-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }