Harnessing the Earth's Power for Sustainable Heating
As the world races to secure sustainable alternatives to meet its energy needs, geothermal energy is proving to be a powerful, renewable resource that can heat and cool buildings, industries and communities with minimal environmental impact. This natural energy source, derived from the earth's internal heat, offers a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition to a low-carbon model, without compromising on efficiency or sustainability.
Proactively championing sustainable energy solutions for over a decade, Equans has positioned itself as a key player in the development and implementation of geothermal technologies. By integrating geothermal energy into larger heat networks and renewable energy systems, Equans is not only driving the transition, but also leading industries on the path to a cleaner and more resilient future.
What is Geothermal Energy and How Does it Work?
Geothermal energy uses the heat stored beneath the earth's surface to provide a constant, reliable power source. This heat, which comes from the natural decay of radioactive materials and the thermal energy of the earth's core, is both abundant and renewable. It can be tapped using a variety of methods, such as ground source heat pumps, which transfer heat from the ground to buildings in winter and vice versa in summer. For larger applications, deep geothermal wells can tap into hot water or steam reservoirs to generate electricity for large-scale industries or provide heat directly to communities.
The Role of Geothermal Energy in our Transition Strategies
As the window of opportunity for action shrinks and environmental concerns grow, the decarbonisation of heat generation has emerged as a key pathway to achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement within the timeframe set. According to the IEA's Net Zero Energy (NZE) scenario, the share of renewable energy in the heat supply should reach 27.3% in buildings and 18.5% in the industrial sector by 2027, representing significant progress in the transition to low-carbon solutions.
Solar thermal energy, which accounts for up to 15% of renewable heat, is particularly suitable for producing large volumes of hot water for households, car washes and the food industry at temperatures of up to 250°C. In the NZE scenario, solar thermal production is expected to quadruple, underlining its potential for a decarbonised energy mix.
Biomass replaces gas at wood-fired power plant
Biomass is another sustainable source that generates power from the decomposition of organic matter. Biomass is often used in combined heat and power plants to produce both heat and electricity and is growing rapidly, especially in regions without well-developed gas distribution networks. The IEA predicts a dramatic 25-fold increase in bioenergy use by 2027.
Geothermal Energy: Cornerstone of the Renewable Energy Mix
Geothermal energy completes the renewable energy mix. Characterised by its affordability, low CO2 emissions and the fact that there are no storage problems or seasonal fluctuations, geothermal energy is a reliable source for heating and cooling needs. Geothermal systems are highly efficient and provide consistent temperature control with lower long-term running costs. These systems also contribute to energy independence by reducing dependence on imported fuels and increasing local security.
These unique characteristics make it an integral part of our transition strategies, as it promises a continuous, stable supply of renewable heat.
A Clean and Just Transition: The Strategic Importance of Geothermal Energy
The European Parliament has taken a decisive step to promote geothermal energy, recognising its central role not only in the energy transition, but also in a just transition. Continuous operation, fixed costs and independence from critical raw materials such as rare earths make geothermal energy a strategic component of the EU's clean technology portfolio.
Stimulating the Growth of Geothermal Energy: EU Incentives
With the right policies, investments and technological advances, the transition to a low-carbon system based on renewable heat sources such as solar thermal, biogas and especially geothermal, can pave the way for a cleaner, greener world.
In a resolution adopted on 18 January, EU lawmakers underline the need for a comprehensive European strategy to accelerate the use of and investment in geothermal energy, as complex national regulations and lengthy authorisation procedures are currently hampering progress.
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- Unified strategy for geothermal development:The resolution supports the systematic mapping of geothermal resources across the EU, with the aim of creating a publicly accessible repository of underground data to facilitate the exploration and development of geothermal energy.
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- National strategies and industry alliances:EU Member States are encouraged to develop national geothermal strategies and create a geothermal industry alliance to pool efforts and resources, as France, Poland and Ireland have done.
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- Reducing financial risks and encouraging investment:The resolution proposes the establishment of a harmonised insurance scheme to reduce financial risks for geothermal project developers and encourage private sector investment by mitigating exploration risks.
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- Supporting fossil fuel dependent regions:Recognising the challenges faced by fossil fuel-dependent regions, the resolution underlines the need to support the transition to geothermal energy by proposing to repurpose hydrocarbon industry infrastructure for geothermal projects and to assist these regions in the energy transition.
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Balancing Supply and Demand through Innovative Thermal Energy Storage
The development of geothermal energy, which has the potential to store energy under buildings, is a measure that could significantly reduce electricity consumption and help finance the energy transition.
"It is imperative that we make the leap into geothermal energy, right under our feet, under every single building", emphasises Jerome Stubler, CEO of Equans.
“ By digging a metre or two underground, we have a temperature that corresponds to the average winter temperature. This allows us - and other countries like the Netherlands are doing this on a large scale - to easily store energy in the ground near buildings. In France, we can store excess summer heat in the ground near buildings in 60% of the country. This allows us to reduce electricity consumption by a factor of 5 to 6, and in some cases up to 10. ”
Harnessing this geothermal energy and making it compulsory for all new buildings can result in huge savings that could be reallocated to other sustainable development needs, such as the cost of electricity used by electric vehicles.
Equans, a Pioneering Force in Energy Services and Storage
Specialising in sustainable energy services and storage, Equans is leading the way to a more sustainable future with an innovative Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system. ATES works on a simple but ingenious principle: it uses the thermal energy stored in aquifers - underground layers of water-bearing, permeable rock or material. In winter, the system pumps water from these aquifers to the surface, where heat pumps use the thermal energy to heat buildings. The cooled water is then channelled back into the ground. In summer, the process is reversed. Water that has cooled down in winter is pumped upward to cool buildings. Once this water has absorbed the heat from the buildings, it is returned to the aquifer to be used in the next heating cycle.
The special feature of ATES is the local generation and storage of energy, which eliminates the need for transportation. This cutting-edge open-loop geothermal technology is an example of a 100% green energy solution for heating in winter and cooling in summer. With consumption savings of over 60%, it has already proven itself in 3,000 installations in the Netherlands.
Heat Pumps: A Bridge to Low-Carbon Heating and Cooling
Heat pumps play a central role in the practical application of geothermal energy in industrial and residential buildings. These devices work on a simple but powerful principle: they transfer heat from a cooler space to a warmer one, using a small amount of external power to achieve something that seems to go against natural tendencies. In geothermal heating, heat pumps raise the earth's natural heat to a temperature high enough to heat buildings or produce hot water.
A notable innovation in this field is our integration of thermorefrigeration pumps and the recompression of NH3 (ammonia) gas from chillers, as demonstrated in the Compagnie de Fromage et Richemont project. This system, powered by electricity generated by solar panels, uses thermorefrigeration pumps to recompress NH3 gas extracted from refrigeration machines, combined with hybrid energy capture. This innovative approach makes it possible to produce hot water up to 120°C without having to rely on gas boilers. Using natural fluids as refrigerants and geothermal energy and storage for cooling, the heat pump system achieves efficiencies three to four times higher than traditional combustion-based systems.
Heat Networks: Powering Cities with Sustainable and Local Energy
Geothermal energy, with its reliable and sustainable heat supply, serves as a natural bridge to the next frontier in low-carbon solutions: the development and expansion of efficient heat networks in industrial environments and urban landscapes.
Cities around the world are facing the challenge of reducing carbon emissions while meeting rising energy demands. Heat networks efficiently distribute heat to multiple buildings via a central energy hub using extensive renewable and recovered energy sources such as wood, geothermal and waste — resources that are otherwise difficult to harness in densely populated areas.
Mechanism Behind Heat Networks
Similar to central heating, but on a larger scale, heat networks use underground pipelines to deliver hot water to individual buildings from a variety of thermal, renewable (such as biomass, geothermal, solar) and recovered energy sources (such as household waste incineration, biogas and wood waste). This eliminates the need for a separate boiler in each building and uses renewable and low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps, waste-to-energy plants and on-site energy storage to efficiently decarbonise heating.
As these networks grow, they not only improve energy efficiency and resilience through economies of scale, but also reduce capital and operating costs through optimised design. They have intelligent controls for better management, are adaptable to local energy sources and are future-proofed so they can be upgraded with the latest technologies. Their scalability and ability to combine different energy sources also offers the opportunity to sell surplus heat, providing a model that balances efficiency, sustainability and economic viability.
Equans Spearheading Innovative Heat Network Alternatives
Heat networks, already a cornerstone in the transition to more sustainable and local solutions for cities, are on the cusp of a major transformation.
Leveraging our extensive expertise and partnership approach Equans is at the forefront of this transformation process, offering extensive expertise in the design, supply, development, construction and operation of heat networks worldwide. With projects ranging from residential areas to commercial estates, industrial sites and public facilities, Equans tailors each solution to local conditions, ensuring maximum efficiency and sustainability.
Equans Digital and Energy Services: Seasoned Experts
Equans Digital and energy services teams have extensive experience in the provision and management of heat networks. This covers the full spectrum of network development, from construction to operation, and extends to different models of heat network management. Clients benefit from Equans' global expertise and experience in delivering some of the largest and most technically advanced district heating. The company's capabilities include turnkey design, statutory consents, techno-economic modelling, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance, funding and performance optimisation.
Our projects include the operation of over 35 heating and/or cooling networks in Belgium and Luxembourg and the development of a large district heating system in Ottawa, Canada, which supplies over 80 buildings, including the Canadian Parliament. In the UK, through our subsidiary Bouygues Energies & Services Solutions, we are operating a pioneering heat network in Swaffham Prior, Cambridgeshire, powered entirely by renewable sources, and implementing a heat network at Comberton Village University in Cambridge to replace on-site oil heating and outdated heating systems, reducing the university's heating costs and carbon footprint by 80%. In the Netherlands, we have installed a ground-breaking geothermal system in Amsterdam that meets 99% of the heating and cooling needs of the Oosterdokseiland district.
Growing Green Credentials of Geothermal Networks
Geothermal networks represent a breakthrough in sustainable heating alternatives and offer a number of advantages over conventional air source heat pumps. Harnessing the stable and abundant energy stored beneath the earth's surface, these networks deliver space heating and hot water to homes through a system of vertical boreholes and ground source heat pumps. This innovative approach not only reduces initial costs for developers, as the infrastructure is owned and operated by the energy companies, but also offers significant savings on running costs for residents and industrial operations, as the networks are highly efficient and offer the opportunity to take advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs.
Ground source networks are also environmentally friendly, producing lower carbon emissions and eliminating the noise, vibration and aesthetic problems associated with external air source heat pump systems. They improve the usability of outdoor spaces, free up indoor space by requiring less equipment and contribute to a significant reduction in peak electricity consumption.
Advantages of Geothermal Networks for Industry
The combination of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and environmental sustainability makes geothermal networks the best choice for heating new and existing buildings and fits perfectly with the goals of the energy transition and reducing the industry's carbon footprint.
- Cost efficiency and energy savings: Industries that switch to geothermal networks experience significant cost savings due to the lower, more predictable costs compared to fossil fuels, the higher efficiency of geothermal heat pumps that reduce bills, and the ability to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates to further optimise costs.
- Improved operational reliability: Geothermal networks provide a stable and reliable supply of heat, regardless of external temperature fluctuations or weather conditions. This is critical for maintaining constant temperature control in facilities and eliminates risks such as noise and maintenance associated with external systems.
- Space optimisation and reduced infrastructure requirements: The compact design of geothermal networks saves valuable indoor space, an advantage where space is at a premium, and reduces peak power consumption, reducing the need for expensive electrical infrastructure upgrades.
- Future-proofing industrial operations: Investing in geothermal networks protects against rising energy costs and stricter environmental regulations, provides scalability for expanding heating needs without the drawbacks of traditional methods, and improves the usability of outdoor space, increasing the value of commercial property.
Princeton’s Central Geothermal Plant Project: A Benchmark in University Sustainability
Princeton University, in partnership with EQUANS, embarked on an ambitious project to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by installing a state-of-the-art central geothermal plant. The task was daunting: Design a project that met the heating and cooling needs of the 16,000 staff and students, reduced energy consumption and aligned with the university's ESG goals, all without disrupting the academic rhythm of the historic campus.
The solution? A comprehensive system of heat pump chillers, multiple hydronic pumping systems and a carefully designed electrical and control network to manage heating, cooling and distribution across the campus.
Equans adopted a two-pronged implementation strategy. We brought together the expertise of sister companies Systecon and HT Lyon to create a modular indoor control centre that was retrofitted into an existing building. This synergy resulted in a full 3D computer-aided design that not only optimised the space, but also preserved the university's architectural heritage.
In parallel, we worked with Whiting-Turner to provide a modular design assistance and design-build package that ensured the seamless integration of the central geothermal plant into the historical campus structure.
A Differentiating Impact that Resonates
The modular centralised plant that is now a reality testifies to Equans’ ability to integrate state-of-the-art energy systems into an existing historic structure. The benefits of this project go far beyond energy savings. The seamless integration of the system into an educational facility creates a unique selling point that demonstrates how technology and tradition can co-exist and thrive. The geothermal plant is not just a provider of energy, but a symbol of progress, a commitment etched into the ground it heats and cools. The project has been a success story of collaboration and innovation and serves as a model for other facilities looking to integrate green energy into their infrastructure.
Geothermal Energy: The Bedrock of our Transition
The role of geothermal energy and heat networks in creating a sustainable energy future is undeniable. As technology advances and clean energy sources become more widespread, these networks will play a crucial role in the energy transition of the world's industries and cities. As a committed partner, Equans not only contributes to the development of these networks, but also ensures that they are adaptable and resilient for future generations, making industrial and urban development more sustainable, more energy efficient and - simply put - more liveable.
