The development of geothermal resources in the country has seen several phases: after a major development phase based on low enthalpy resources from sedimentary basins at the beginning of the 1980s; followed by a period of withdrawal during the 1990s with very little new activity; then more recently by a revival of activity of all kinds, based on a policy by the government for energy management and development, especially of renewable energy (French Energy Law in 2005 and the large consulting process "Grenelle de l’environnement" in 2007).
The goal of the latter act is to have 535 ktoe/year of geothermal heating by 2012, and 1,300 by 2020 composed of district heating (about 40%), large heat pumps (about 20%), and individual geothermal heat pumps (about 40%), based on 220 ktoe/yr in 2006.
A "renewable heating and cooling fund" was set up by the finance law 2009-2011, which supports renewable heating and cooling projects.