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Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a renewable, local and eco-friendly source of energy that is simultaneously efficient and economical. It offers considerable potential for heat and power generation. ENGIE sees it as an energy with high potential for developing an energy mix that will help achieve zero carbon.

Geothermal energy: power from the depths of the earth

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What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy covers all the applications that use the heat contained underground in the subsoil or in groundwater.  
This resource is used to produce heat, cold and electricity, which is then distributed through the networks.
Geothermal energy is renewable, local, environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient and economical, but its use still remains limited in comparison with its huge potential.

 

Key figures

Today, 90 countries use geothermal energy. 
In some countries, geothermal energy represents 22% of domestic output.

Geothermal energy can be deployed in three forms, depending on the soil and the needs: 

 

geothermal energy for buildingsgeothermal energy for buildings: the energy is located at a depth of just a few tens of meters and can be used to heat small systems using heat pumps. The energy is used in a single building or an eco-neighbourhood;

 

 

 

 

heating networks (medium temperature)heating networks (medium temperature): the energy is sourced at depths of a few hundred meters and at temperatures of between 30° and 90°. Geothermal heating networks can supply neighbourhoods, industrial parks or even entire towns with heat and cold;

 

 

 

 

deep geothermal (or high-temperature) energydeep geothermal (or high-temperature) energy: the energy is sourced at depths of between 2,000 and 3,000 meters and at temperatures above 150°. The heat in the subsoil is then transformed into electricity.

 

 

Geothermal energy: an essential response to the demand for renewable energy

Since it is local, ecological and available at all times by its very nature, and because it is recognised as being technologically mature, geothermal energy meets the demand for carbon-free energy. 
Depending on the local demand for energy and the characteristics of the subsoil, geothermal energy can be used to produce renewable electricity, heat and cold for towns, industrial sites or eco-neighbourhoods.

 

The strong points of this promising energy 

  • A renewable resource that is available permanently
    This permanently available energy can be used to supplement solar and wind power. It is available and usable 24x7. The heat produced from geothermal energy does not demand any specific means of storage, since it is stored in the subsoil itself.
    The resources used to produce geothermal energy are never depleted and they are renewed naturally. 
  • An ecologically clean resource
    Geothermal energy has a very low environmental impact. Geothermal energy is the ideal source for the local supply of renewable energy that complies with the most stringent labels and regulations applying to buildings. 
  • A local resource that is available everywhere
    Geothermal reserves can be found on every continent. Today, the technology is available to develop geothermal energy, depending on geological formations and rock composition.
  • An economical resource
    As fossil fuel energies become rarer and more expensive, geothermal energy offers a promising outlook in terms of the control of energy costs in the medium and long term.

 

energie prometteuse

 

ENGIE is developing its geothermal activities in France and worldwide

ENGIE is one of the few energy providers that possesses all the expertise required to offer geothermal solutions adapted to the different markets: 

  • Production of green electricity 
  • Production of renewable heat and cold for urban networks and industry, or heating and air conditioning for individual buildings or eco-neighbourhoods

Indonesia: a first operational electricity power plant

ENGIE develops geothermal technologies to produce electricity, for example in Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra which, with its 140 active volcanoes, has the highest geothermal potential on the planet and accounts for 40% of worldwide reserves.

Drilling started in 2012 and confirmed the existence of a high-temperature reservoir (hotter than 200°C). 

In December 2019, ENGIE started operating the first 85-MW electricity power plant in Muara Laboh as part of a three-party consortium, made up of the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation trading and investment company, the Indonesian geothermal electricity project developer, PT Supreme Energy, and ENGIE.

A second electricity power plant is under construction on a new site in Rantau Dedap, which is due to start up in 2021.

 

Muara Laboh

 

 

Key figures

The 85-MW Muara Laboh power plant is already producing geothermal electricity that will supply about 340,000 households for more than 30 years. 

The second power plant in Rantau Dedap should produce 90 MW of electricity.

Greater Paris: 100 GWh of green heat for 10,000 housing units

ENGIE supplies 100 GWh of green heat to housing units in Champs-sur-Marne and Noisiel. This 25-year public service concession with the Paris – Vallée de la Marne (CAPVM) district authority provides for the creation and operation of a 20 km-long geothermal heating network that uses 80% of geothermal energy.  This new network will contribute to the decarbonisation of the district and allow future housing units that are built in the district to be green-labelled. In addition, this network will help to combat energy insecurity by guaranteeing affordable and stable prices for future users.

 

Key figures

80% of geothermal energy in the network
100 GWh of green heat, equivalent to 10,000 housing units

The Bordeaux regional authority in France opts for geothermal energy for its heating network

ENGIE proposed a unique integrated offer for deep geothermal energy in order to better meet the expectations of the Bordeaux Metropole authority. This offer includes the exploration of a deep aquifer designed and implemented by Storengy.
The production plant, heating network and geothermal wells will come on stream in 2021, supplying the equivalent of 28,000 housing units.

 

PGE

 

Key figures

A 25-km heating network
82% of needs covered by renewable energies 
38 direct or indirect jobs, including 10 for first-time workers

Greater Paris: the “Issy Cœur de Ville” project

The “Issy Cœur de Ville” urban development project entails the construction of an eco-neighbourhood that uses shallow groundwater geothermal energy. The project provides for the development of a new mixed neighbourhood on the former site of the CNET in Issy-lès-Moulineaux.
Most of the heat and cold supplied to the neighbourhood will be produced using groundwater geothermal energy and distributed through a single network covering the entire site.
This solution will make it possible to pool the demand for heat and cold of the different buildings (offices, shops, housing) by sharing energy between the entities, at times when some need cold, while others require heat.

 

Key figures

100,000 m2 of housing units, offices and shops
More than 75% of renewable energies