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Bordeaux uses geothermal energy to green its heating network

Bordeaux uses geothermal energy to green its heating network The “Grand Parc Energies” heating network will reach 13 km, compared to 4 km. (source/ credit: Art'Ur Architects / Engie Solutions)
Alexander Richter 5 Dec 2021

Mixing biomass and groundsource heat pumps, the city of Bordeaux, France is also tapping geothermal energy for its district heating system.

The metropolis of Bordeaux in the South of France has entrusted Engie Solutions with the construction of a geothermal energy coupled with a biomass boiler, as reported by Environnement Magazine in France. This project aims to extend the existing heating network by 9 km and make it green by 2024 thanks to an unprecedented combination in the region.

Reactivating an old geothermal well and combining it with a unit for producing heat from biomass, such is the system devised by the Engie Solutions teams. This solution will allow the Bordeaux metropolis to distribute heating and hot water to 6,900 additional housing equivalents.

As part of a 25-year concession on the heating network called “Grand Parc Energies”, ENGIE Solutions will renovate and commission the existing 1,000-meter-deep production well, which will produce water at 44 ° C including the flow will be optimized. This geothermal energy will have a total capacity of 7.4 MW thanks to 4 heat pumps powered by 100% renewable and local electricity, coming in particular from the dams of the Hydroelectric Company of Midi (SHEM) and the photovoltaic park of Fanjeaux (ENGIE ) as part of a turnkey Green PPA *. This solution makes it possible to respond to the Metropolis’ desire to green its network while protecting network subscribers from the volatility of energy market prices.

A major environmental advantage, the injection drilling carried out in the Eocene (terrestrial layer located at -300 m) will allow the overexploited local groundwater tables to be recharged with drinking water by around 781,000 m 3 / year.

The back-up biomass boiler will be made up of 3 boilers with a total installed capacity of 4 MW. This efficient and discreet infrastructure will provide heat and hot water to residents. From 2025, the wood energy, transported from a maximum radius of 100 km around Bordeaux in order to promote the local sector, will be delivered at 50% by vehicles running on natural gas.

This combination of environmentally friendly infrastructures will make it possible to rationalize and optimize the volumes of woodfuel supply.

A solution that responds to the metropolis’ desire to complete its energy transition while protecting its subscribers from the volatility of energy market prices. “This project demonstrates the ability of our experts to design tailor-made energy solutions for the future, perfectly suited to the needs of a region and attentive to the comfort of local residents. […] It is also confirmation that the energy transition is being built now, thanks to the commitment of elected officials and the inventiveness of our teams ”, underlines Yann Rolland, Deputy CEO of Engie Solutions.

Source:  Environnement Magazine, Engie Solutions