Below are a few examples of various places around France that are heated by geothermal energy, presented in an infographic taken from the 27th edition of the Géosciences magazine, published in September 2023.
A few examples of places that are heated by geothermal energy in France
Radio France has been using geothermal energy since 1963
Did you know? Since the day of its inauguration on 14 December 1963, the Maison de la Radio has been heated and cooled by deep geothermal energy, drawing on the Albien aquifer to heat and cool the building. It was the first building to be heated by geothermal energy in France. This heating system has enabled the French radio company "to avoid being affected by the economic consequences of the various oil crises that have occurred since the 1970s. It is partly thanks to this heating system that Radio France has been able to keep its budgets under control", according to Jean-Luc Hees. Since 2010, the Maison de la Radio has switched to a near-surface geothermal energy system, in order to comply with new legislative requirements, while also meeting their premises' increasings needs in terms of cooling.
Aéroports de Paris: geothermal energy and waste heat at Orly Airport
A total of 50% of the heating required at Orly Airport will be supplied by geothermal energy by 2024. Currently, geothermal energy is used to produce 35% of the heating requirements (equivalent to the consumption needs of 5,000 homes). It is used to heat part of the buildings and to supply hot water. The airport also uses the waste heat produced by the waste-energy recovery plant in Rungis. The proportion of geothermal energy will be increased through the addition of a heat pump, which will boost the energy potential.
Rennes: homes heated by the Métro
Geothermal energy is now used to heat and supply hot water to homes situated above the Métro (underground) stations in Rennes. And this energy is produced via the Métro itself! In 2021, an original system was installed directly in the floor slabs and vertical walls of four Rennes Métro stations in order to produce heat. This innovative project is managed by BRGM. The entire surface of the stations is now used as a heat exchanger. This system should have the capacity to cover a very large proportion of the heating needs of the buildings above the stations. Ultimately, some 112 homes will benefit from geothermal heating.
Paris 2024: the Olympic Games go geothermal
It's official: the athletes' village (located in St Ouen and St Denis) for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the surrounding urban development area (ZAC) and the Pleyel Tower will receive 68% of their power from geothermal energy. The energy will be used for heating and cooling and will be supplied and managed by CPCU – the Paris Urban Heating Company. The water used will be drawn from three aquifers, in a system combining near-surface geothermal energy and thermo-fridge pumps. The facilities will be used over the long term, since the athletes' villages will be converted into accommodation and offices after the Games. This initiative will contribute to "delivering low-carbon Olympic and Paralympic Games. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by half. As such, we aim to decarbonise 35% to 40% of building construction and more than 60% of building use," explains Antoine du Souich, Director of Strategy and Innovation at Solideo, one of the project's partners, in conjunction with Engie and SMirec.
The "Places heated by geothermal energy" infographic, taken from the 27th edition of Géosciences, published in September 2023.
© BRGM
Detailed description
Radio France fidèle à la géothermie depuis 1963
Le saviez-vous ? Depuis son inauguration le 14 décembre 1963, la maison de la radio est chauffée et rafraichie par géothermie profonde, en puisant dans la nappe de l’Albien, afin de chauffer et rafraichir le bâti. Il s’agissait du premier bâtiment chauffé par géothermie en France. Ce système de chauffage a permis à la station « de ne pas subir de préjudice économique lors des différents chocs pétroliers. C’est en partie grâce à elle que Radio France a pu maitriser ses budgets » selon Jean-Luc Hees. Elle est passée depuis 2010 à de la géothermie de surface, pour des raisons de législation, et de besoin accru en rafraichissement notamment.
Aéroports de Paris : géothermie et chaleur fatale à Orly
50% de la chaleur sera fournie par géothermie à l’aéroport d’Orly en 2024. Elle en produit actuellement 35%, soit l’équivalent de la consommation de 5 000 logements, qui sert à chauffer en partie les bâtiments et à fournir de l’eau chaude sanitaire. L’aéroport utilise aussi notamment la chaleur fatale produite par l’unité de valorisation énergétique de Rungis. L’augmentation de la part de géothermie sera due à l’ajout d’une pompe à chaleur qui augmentera le potentiel énergétique.
Rennes : des logements chauffés grâce au métro
C’est la géothermie qui chauffe et fournit de l’eau chaude désormais aux logements implantés au-dessus de station de métro, à Rennes, via le métro ! Un projet piloté par le BRGM, a vu le jour en 2021 grâce à un système original, implanté directement dans les dalles et les parois verticales de quatre stations de métro rennaises. C’est donc toute la surface de la station qui sert désormais d’échangeur thermique. Cela devrait permettre de couvrir une très grande partie des besoins de chaleur des immeubles. À terme, ce sont 112 logements qui vont bénéficier de ce chauffage par géothermie.
Paris 2024 : les jeux olympiques se mettent à la géothermie
C’est officiel, le village des athlètes des futurs jeux olympiques à St Ouen et St Denis, la ZAC et la tour Pleyel seront alimentés à 68 % par géothermie. Cette énergie leur apportera de la chaleur et du rafraichissement (CPCU). Les eaux seront prélevées dans trois nappes, dans un dispositif associant géothermie de surface et thermo-frigo pompes. Les installations serviront dans la durée car une fois les jeux passés, les locaux se transformeront en logements et bureaux. Le but de ce dispositif est de « réaliser des jeux olympiques et paralympiques à faible émission de carbone. L’objectif étant de diviser par deux les émissions de carbone, on prévoit de décarboner à hauteur de 35% à 40% sur la construction des bâtiments et de plus de 60% sur les usages » précise Antoine du Souich, directeur de la stratégie et de l’innovation chez Solideo, un des partenaires du projet avec Engie et le SMirec.
Cover and extract of Issue 27 of the Géosciences journal.
© BRGM
Geosciences No. 27: Subsurface solutions for the Energy Transition
Geothermal energy, CO2 or heat storage, access to mineral resources and more. This issue of Géosciences looks at the potential of the subsurface for the energy transition.
Associating the subsurface with the energy transition may appear incongruous. Wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, or possibly hydroelectric dams and nuclear power stations come more readily to mind. And yet, the energy and ecological transition that will gradually lead us to develop low-carbon energy will require us to make increasing use of the resources and potential of the subsurface.
Issue 27 of BRGM's Géosciences magazine investigates subsurface solutions: geothermal energy, CO2 storage, heat storage and hybridisation of these different solutions with other sources of renewable energy. It also looks at access to mineral resources, which are vital to the success of the energy transition.
