[en] This article first discusses the potential of surface geothermal energy even though this energy first requires important investments, and as the French government has decided to support this technology. Some think that it could even replace all other means of cold or heat production. After having outlined that a professional collective has been created (France Geoenergie), the article outlines that geothermal heat pumps are more efficient than aero-thermal heat pumps which are now the more numerous. Moreover, Geothermal heat pumps display an interesting property: the surplus of produced heat can be stored in the soil. It also appears that the competitiveness of surface geothermal energy is increasing. Within this context of strong potential development, it is necessary to train drillers. Some French companies are already committed and ready

[en] Whereas the European Union aims at reducing its dependency on imports of critical materials and rare earths, this article outlines that this stake more relates to the security of supply and to a relocation of value chains than to the creation of new mines in Europe. The leader position of China is outlined (60 pc of rare earths and control of 90 pc of processes for the production of permanent magnets). The role of recycling could be important

[en] Dream Energy has announced the commissioning of three fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in the Nancy area, powered by its hydroelectric power station in Baccarat (Meurthe-et-Moselle). The company is establishing a foothold in the eastern part of France, where it operates three micro-hydropower stations

[en] The project to store France's most hazardous nuclear waste 500 meters underground, on the borders of the Meuse and Haute-Marne regions, is accompanied by an ambitious research program designed to preserve the site's memory for five centuries and beyond

[en] Whereas decarbonization is at the heart of national policies (Inflation Reduction Act in the USA to favour clean energies, a new European regulation envisaged to aim at carbon neutrality in industry), one of the first steps for a process decarbonization relies on the implementation of an energy management strategy. However, such a strategy is often left behind in favour of actions with a short-delay return. As the reduction of industrial emissions also requires a substitution of fossil fuels (with, as a result, a change of equipment), this file reports different examples: Trane France is using an electric heat pump to replace its gas-fuelled boilers; Krono Swiss envisages a strong increase of its biomass share in its mix; a brewery is implementing actions for energy transition; and the project of modification of its ovens by Aubert and Duval which outlines the importance of a maximum recovery and valorisation of unavoidable heat

[en] Whereas renewable gases (particularly bio-methane) are expected as a mean to decarbonize our consumption of fossil fuels (notably the Russian gas) with the necessity of support mechanisms for the sector, this set of articles sheds a light on associated developments. It comments results of a study performed to assess environmental effects through an analysis of the life cycle of bio-methane produced from agricultural wastes. It presents a prototype developed by GRTgaz to valorize the unavoidable energy of natural gas expansion to produce electric power (Tenore project in Villiers-le-Bel), the solution developed by Prodeval to valorize biogenic CO₂ produced by methanization. It presents the data centre built by Adista (a telecom operator) near Toul and at the vicinity of a methanization unit where the produced biogas is converted into electric power and in cold to supply the data centre. It comments the technologies (coupling of methanization and pyro-gasification) developed and implemented by GRTgaz and Etia for the production of low-carbon gas from solid residues, a project which also comprises a dimension of circular economy. It finally presents the Chateau-Gontier methanization unit, the first one in France to produce all together green electric power, green heat, bio-NGV and bio-methane

[en] This set of articles proposes an overview of developments and innovations in the field of renewable gas production. It evokes the high number of projects which are currently being undertaken or studied, the evolution of the regulation which may lead to a higher level than the objective defined by the French energy multi-year planning. It discusses the development of specific technologies like power-to-gas and pyro-gasification which may help in reaching the 100 per cent renewable gas mix by 2050, provided that all actors are committed to pass from a pilot and demonstrator stage to industrial units. Projects for a better energy valorisation of inputs and of their co-methanisation are also evoked: it is based on the use of bio-wastes, partly from domestic origin, which will be sorted by 2025. Innovation in the field of valorisation of carbon dioxide obtained during biogas purification will also be crucial. The importance of labels is outlined (Qualimetha, for example), as well as the importance of support to local projects

[en] This set of articles addresses various aspects of the development of battery-based energy storage in France, a technique which may become relevant by 2030. Thus, the articles outlines that the French sector has to move forwards in order to catch up with other countries, notices that French experimentations are now mainly addressing non interconnected areas. Some projects are more precisely presented: a project of virtual lines (Ringo), a project of electric vehicles (REVE) in a conurbation in Northern France, or an installation to store photovoltaic and wind energy in New-Caledonia. It also outlines that France and European countries must develop innovating, more sustainable and competitive technologies to distinguish themselves from their competitors, notably Chinese and American. This is the case with the European project of development of an 'Airbus of electrical batteries'. Articles also address the issues of battery recycling and of battery second life, as well as the search for new storage solutions (examples of the Energy Vault tower, or of the transformation of ancient mines into storage sites while using pumped energy transfer techniques to give a second life to batteries. The emergence of power-to-gas is finally addressed

[en] After the Covid-19 crisis which resulted in an economic crisis, notably in the industrial sector, this set articles highlights efforts made by this sector in order to optimise energy efficiency, as wells as actions which are still to be undertaken. Among them and as discussed in an article, the valorisation of waste heat requires preliminary studies to define the most technically and economically relevant solution. Various solutions are overviewed which depend on the industrial application (heat recovery and valorisation in a process, or heat network supply). Within this context, the ISO 50001 certification and its continuous improvement are key issues for industrials who want to improve their actions. An article however outlines that the high level of necessary investments could be a break for development. Thus, an article outlines the need to train all actors of the investment chain about the stakes of energy efficiency (example of the Inveest programme)

[en] Whereas evolutions regarding economic and regulatory support are a matter of concern for the French biomethane sector, a set of articles first outlines that the good dynamics which has been noticed until now, could be stunted. However, some experiments (reverse technologies by West Grid Synergy, and biogas storage based on liquefied or compressed gas by GrDF) display promising results. A project of use of lime milk is commented which would reduce costs of methane purification before injection, and thus would result in a higher competitiveness which would also be increased if biogas positive externalities would be taken into account. An article notices that some consider that the biomethane sector could be tool for the preservation of water resources and of soils, whereas others think that it results in additional risks. An article comments the development of pyro-gasification, one of the emerging sectors beside methanization, and two pyro-gasification units projected in Loire-Atlantique are presented. The last article evokes the development of a trans-border hydrogen transport network between France and Germany (Moselle and Sarre)