Daniel Guiraud, vice-President of the Greater Paris Metropolitan Area.
© Métropole du Grand Paris
Interview of Daniel Guiraud, Vice-President of the Greater Paris Metropolitan Area.
What are the scientific and technological challenges for the Greater Paris Climate-Air-Energy Plan?
Daniel Guiraud: This Plan, adopted on 12 November 2018 by the Metropolitan Council, puts forward an ambition based on three strategic and operational objectives: to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, i.e. zero net emissions in line with the Paris Agreement; to massively reduce final energy consumption (a 50% reduction by 2050 from 2005 levels); and finally to obtain a diversified and decarbonised energy mix by increasing the share of renewable and recovered energy in total energy consumption to 60% by 2050. The development of a sector such as surface geothermal energy is fully in line with these energy transition objectives.
What is the status of the diagnosis of surface geothermal energy potential in Greater Paris?
D.G.: Although the development of the geothermal energy sector is desired and desirable in terms of the ambitions of the capital city, only a fraction of the geothermal resources of the region is currently used. This currently amounts to only 1000 GWh (1 TWh), whereas the study carried out by BRGM will show that the potential of surface geothermal energy alone is 30 times higher (29.75 TWh per year) than the total geothermal energy currently used.
BRGM has helped us develop appropriate tools: suitable communication tools and a precise diagnosis establishing the potential for the development of surface geothermal energy in the Greater Paris area.
Can you tell us a little about the programmes?
D.G.: In partnership with ADEME and BRGM, the Greater Paris Metropolitan Area wished to develop tools to promote this sometimes poorly understood solution. The study programme falls under an agreement signed on 16 March 2020 between BRGM and the Metropolitan Council. It has two main phases: to establish a case for surface geothermal energy (0-200 m) and to study the potential for developing surface geothermal energy in the Greater Paris area.
What is the outcome of this collaboration?
D.G.: The work carried out with BRGM has confirmed and refined our knowledge of the geothermal potential of the area, which is spearheading the production of renewable heat energy in the Greater Paris area.
This work will be included in our energy master plan, which is currently under development. The technical and strategic diagnoses were finalised in the summer of 2021 and the project is currently in the stakeholder consultation phase. An initial version of the energy master plan will be presented to the Metropolitan Council in April 2022.
