ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

Paris with new geothermal district heating project

A major new project is under way in Paris to provide ecologically clean heating for an entire district” fueled by geothermal energy. This is a revival of geothermal district heating development in the French capital.

As reported from France, “a major new project is under way in Paris to provide ecologically clean heating for an entire district” fueled by geothermal energy. This is a revival of geothermal district heating development in the French capital and – according to the news – “drilling has just begun in the north of the city on a desolate building site sandwiched between the traffic-clogged inner ring road and the Saint-Denis canal.”

“In Paris we’re trying to adopt a strategy in which France is largely behind other European countries, because we’ve under-invested in renewable energies,” said Denis Baupin, a Paris deputy mayor. There is already a drilling rig in place and it is expected that it will need to be drilled down to 1.7 km (roughly 5,600 feet).

“At that depth lies a geological stratum called the Dogger from which water, heated naturally to 57 degrees Celsius (135 Fahrenheit), will be sucked up to the surface, where it will be used to heat another stock of water. This will be pumped to apartment blocks to heat radiators and provide hot water.”

“The scheme will heat around 12,000 apartments and other buildings due to be built by 2011 in a new residential area in the city’s 19th district. The project will cost EUR 31 million (US$ 40 million), EUR 5 million of which will come from the state environment agency and the regional council.”

Galas, whose company is jointly owned by the City of Paris and the energy group GDF Suez, pointed to a row of high-rise tower blocks on the other side of the ring road and said they too would eventually be hooked up to the system. It will also provide 54 percent of the new area’s energy needs.

Source: Space Wire

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