Par
Vanessa Aspe
Published on
Jan 24, 2025 at 7:26 a.m.
What do the La Fayette colleges et Hippolyte-Rémyschools of Coulommiersgymnasiums, the aquatic center, technical services and the Medical-Educational Institute (IME)? All these buildings share a common, local and sustainable energy source: geothermal energy.
This heating system, which draws its energy from the depths of the Earth, is experiencing growing success in Coulommiers and is expected to expand further in the years to come.
Green and sustainable energy
Since its launch in 1980, the Coulommiers geothermal network has continued to grow. The principle is based on drilling 2,300 meters deep, where water naturally heated to 86 degrees is extracted. This heat is then transferred to power local infrastructure before the water, cooled to a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees, is reinjected into the subsoil.
This energy, considered clean and stable, helps avoid the emission of nearly 10,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of 2,000 vehicles taken off the road. “It is local, green and sustainable energy which allows us to considerably reduce our carbon footprint,” underlined Laurence Picard, the mayor of Coulommiers, during the greeting ceremony.
A constant expansion
Last winter, the building located near the old fire station was connected to the network. In 2025, it will be the turn of the 300 homes in the Pierre-Mortier district to benefit from this inexpensive energy. “Today, the network extends over 11 kilometers, from Templiers to Vaux,” explains Pascal Fournier, deputy delegate for finance and ecological transition as well as president of the geothermal union.
The latter is also working on other projects to further strengthen the municipality's energy independence. This year, photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof of technical services, in partnership with the Syndicat des Énergies de Seine-et-Marne.
-A profitable investment for users
It should be noted, however, that the development of geothermal energy in Coulommiers required a significant investment: 13 million euros to create the wells and 4.5 million euros to extend the network. Added to this are maintenance costs, as the network must be regularly checked to ensure that it is functioning properly.
However, this investment results in financial benefits for users. In 2023, a family of four would spend on average 660 euros per year on heating and hot water, a cost significantly lower than that of fossil or electric fuels.
A visionary bet
For Laurence Picard, this success is the result of a long-term vision initiated by Franck Riester, former mayor of Coulommiers, who had invested to increase the production capacity of the plant.
Geothermal energy thus embodies a sustainable energy model that places the city at the forefront of the ecological transition. With expansion projects already planned, the municipality continues to lead the way in responsible energy management, while guaranteeing its residents controlled costs and a reduced ecological footprint.
What is geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy, which means “heat from the Earth”, refers to all the techniques used to capture the heat contained in the subsoil or underground water tables. This natural resource is exploited to produce heat, cold, and even electricity, redistributed via energy networks.
Still underdeveloped despite considerable potential, geothermal energy constitutes a renewable, local and environmentally friendly energy. Today, 90 countries use geothermal energy, some reaching up to 22% of their national production thanks to this resource.
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