Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Guadeloupe
The double-flash plant at La Bouillante in the French Overseas Department of Guadeloupe is at present the only example of the island's geothermal energy being utilised for electricity production. The plant was commissioned in 1985 but was closed between 1992 and 1996.

The French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) contributed to the development of the Bouillante high-enthalpy field by supporting 20% of the cost of drilling new wells.

Following the rehabilitation of Bouillante 1, a 5 MWe double-flash unit, in 1996, the plant was able to supply 2% of the island's electricity supply in 1998. Extensive exploration of the Bouillante field ensued and led to the drilling of three new production wells and a plan to construct Bouillante 2, an 11 MWe unit some 400 m from the original plant. Bouillante 2 was put into service in 2005 and currently some 10% of electricity generation is supplied by the geothermal resource. Pre-feasibility studies for Bouillante 3 began in 2004 with the aim of geothermal power supplying up to 20% of the island's electricity in the future.