Banking group’s building in Corenc, France to be modernized with geothermal

Artist’s impression of the modernized BPAURA building in Corenc, France (source: Celsius Energy)

Shallow geothermal energy specialist Celsius Energy has been engaged by banking group Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes (BPAURA) to implement a geothermal heating and cooling system as part of the modernization of the company’s 7680-sq. m. administrative building in Corenc, France.

Celsius Energy will deploy its technology by drilling 12 inclined boreholes 120 meters deep, each equipped with double “U” probes. The innovation of inclined probes reduces the footprint necessary for carrying out the work. On the surface, the 12 boreholes planned for the Corenc site will use a floor space equivalent to that of two parking spaces. The complete system by Celsius Energy will include a geothermal heat pump and a digital control device to monitor and optimize energy performance.

The geothermal solution will cover 88% of the building’s heating needs and 94% of its cooling needs. This result is in line with the BPAURA’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint and complying with the requirements of the new ELAN law to reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2050.

BPAURA will be undertaking other efforts to reduce energy consumption at the Corenc site. These will include the installation of 500 solar panels, relamping with LED lighting, and the implementation of a technical building management (BMS) for the regulation and management of energy systems. The modernization work is being headed by Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Es and is expected to be completed by 2024.

“With this project, we demonstrate that geoenergy is a simple, renewable and replicable solution for any energy renovation project for a tertiary building. Geoenergy also has the advantage of being able to be used on nearly 97% of French territory,”  said Cindy Demichel, CEO of Celsius Energy.

“Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes, committed to the environmental transition, is taking a significant step forward with this innovative use of surface geothermal energy. This initiative not only reinforces our commitment to energy efficiency, but also demonstrates our ability to innovate to reduce our carbon footprint and be in line with environmental challenges by 2050,” added Daniel Karyotis, Managing Director of the BPAURA.

Before the end of 2023, Celsius Energy started started the work for a geothermal district heating and cooling network in Ferney-Voltaire in Ain, France, near the Geneva Airport. The project is targeting commissioning by 2030.

Source: Celsius Energy