“Geothermal Energy on the Triolet Campus. Renewable energy right under our feet!”

As part of the 6th edition of National Geology Days, organized by the Geological Society of France.

By Roger SOLIVA and Michel SÉRANNE, geologists at Géosciences Montpellier (CNRS, University of Montpellier).

Geothermal energy is a renewable, sustainable, carbon-free energy source. A wide variety of processes utilize the temperature difference between the subsurface and the surface to generate heat or cooling; however, all depend on the geothermal gradient, which is determined by the local geological structure. Around Montpellier, hot springs indicate thermal anomalies near the surface, which can be explained by the local geology. We will present the geothermal potential of the Triolet Campus (Montpellier), where a former 160-meter borehole produces water at 30°C. This anomaly results from deep water rising through a layer of limestone trapped between impermeable formations. Understanding the physical and hydrogeological properties of this structure would allow for a precise assessment of the geothermal energy resource, which could contribute to the energy mix of local infrastructure. This is what the ThermoTrio scientific project aims to validate.

Admission is free.