Geothermal Isn't Expensive: The Reservoir Always Has the Final Say Somewhere beneath a volcanic ridge, a drill bit is turning through rock that has not moved in two million years. It costs money every second it turns. And nobody on the surface — not the engineer, not the financier, not the minister who announced the megawatts — knows yet whether that well will produce steam or silence. That single moment explains almost everything people get wrong about geothermal energy. Geothermal is routinely described as expensive, slow, capital-hungry and haunted by drilling risk. Investors are reminded that tens of millions can disappear underground before a single megawatt reaches a grid. All of that is true. But it is not the whole truth. The uncomfortable question the industry keeps avoiding is this: is geothermal expensive, or is the way we develop geothermal making it expensive? Those are two completely different problems. One is geology. The other is us. Why Geothermal Refuses to Be...
Arverne Launches First Geothermal Drilling for the Lithium de France Project in Alsace
By: Robert Buluma
Published: November 24, 2025
Location: Pau, France
In a milestone moment for Europe’s geothermal and critical-minerals sectors, Arverne (ARVEN) — France’s leading geothermal solutions provider — has officially begun drilling the first geothermal doublet for the groundbreaking Lithium de France project in Schwabwiller, Alsace. This launch marks a major step toward establishing Europe’s first integrated geothermal-lithium production ecosystem.
A New Chapter for European Geothermal Innovation
According to the company, drilling operations have begun precisely on schedule following extensive site preparation. The geothermal doublet, which includes a production well and a reinjection well, will start at 10 meters apart on the surface and expand to nearly 1 kilometer of horizontal separation at a depth of 2,400 meters.
This phase is crucial. The initial drilling campaign will verify three essential parameters of the geothermal reservoir:
Flow rate
Temperature
Lithium content
These measurements will feed into advanced geological models and help optimize the project’s technical design ahead of full-scale development.
Geothermal Heat + Sustainable Lithium: A First for France
The Lithium de France project is more than a geothermal installation — it is a flagship initiative combining carbon-free geothermal heating with low-carbon lithium extraction.
Key benefits for the region include:
✔ Carbon-free heat for northern Alsace, delivered through short, local energy circuits
✔ Production of low-carbon lithium for Europe’s growing electric-mobility market
✔ Up to 200 new direct jobs generated locally
✔ Up to 90% lower CO₂ emissions compared to natural-gas heating
✔ About 70% less CO₂ emissions than conventional lithium sources, according to the company’s PFS and EcoInvent data
This dual-production model positions France as a leader in sustainable mineral extraction and strengthens Europe’s push for energy sovereignty.
A Seven-Month Drilling Campaign with Major Economic Impact
Drilling of the first doublet will continue for approximately seven months, contributing to Arverne’s projected business growth in 2025–2026. The company reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, expecting a gross activity volume between €25 million and €27 million, representing a significant +45% to +55% increase over 2024.
A Vision of European Energy Sovereignty
Arverne CEO and founder Pierre Brossollet celebrated the achievement, calling it the result of five years of intense effort:
“By combining geothermal heat and sustainable lithium extraction in Europe, this project embodies a new era of energy sovereignty and reindustrialization for our country. This milestone brings us closer to the final investment decision — a key step toward realizing our ambitions.”
About Arverne
Arverne is France’s leading supplier of geothermal solutions, specializing in:
Geothermal heating and cooling systems
Subsurface resource management
Sustainable lithium extraction from geothermal brines
The mission-driven company, listed on Euronext Paris, works with municipalities, industries, and energy users committed to short supply chains and energy independence.
Learn more at arverne.earth
Why This Project Matters for the Geothermal Industry
The launch of this geothermal doublet reinforces a growing trend across Europe: advanced geothermal systems are becoming strategic assets, not just for heat, but also for critical mineral production, including lithium, metals, and hydrogen.
Projects like Lithium de France demonstrate how geothermal brines can unlock new revenue streams for developers — a model that companies around the world, including those in Kenya, Indonesia, Germany, and the U.S., are increasingly exploring.
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