In this article I’ll explore these key questions:
- How has Paris successfully harnessed geothermal energy for decades, and what impact has it had on the city’s sustainability?
- Why is geothermal heating a viable, scalable solution for cities across Europe? How could cities like Luleå or London benefit from geothermal heating systems?
- How does geothermal energy compare to traditional combustion-based heating as a long-term investment?
- What are the main challenges to large-scale geothermal adoption, and how can they be overcome?
Many people know about Paris’ famous underground life—its catacombs and extensive sewer system—but very few are aware of the underground wells that have kept the city warm through cold winter nights since 1969.
The French capital has been heating its homes with carbon-neutral geothermal energy for several decades.
And now, this choice of heating system is proving to be a sustainability advantage for Paris.
The Parisian geothermal system is capable of supplying heat to approximately one million people and avoiding 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared with gas-fired heating systems.
The Parisians adopted geothermal energy as early as the 1960s, likely because of the city’s unique geological location. The geothermal network beneath Paris belongs to the Paris Basin, an underground region stretching from Normandy to Champagne. The water at the bottom of the basin is an efficient source of geothermal energy that can be accessed through deep and narrow wells.
Nowadays, geothermal heating is no longer reliant on an underground water source but can use heat from the deep earth. This means that geothermal energy is cheaper, faster and scalable in all cities regardless of their geological location.
And it’s one of the most efficient ways for cities to reach their net zero goals.
How could cities from Luleå to London adopt and scale geothermal heating?
According to Eurostat, heating contributes to 63.5% of household energy usage in Europe. Many European countries rely on district heating, which currently depends on combustion. The IEA has estimated that 75% of European district heat supplies are produced from non-renewable sources. Efforts have been made to make combustion more sustainable, for example, by burning wood instead of peat or coal.
However, all types of combustion produce high CO2 emissions, meaning these heating methods won’t have longevity in the face of net zero goals or make for a great investment.
No new city or building block should be built to rely on combustion-based heating.
Instead, district heating networks could easily be adapted to support geothermal heating. And there are several reasons for why this should be done.
The benefits of geothermal heating are as powerful as they are long-lasting. Once a geothermal system is installed, the resource is essentially endless. Unlike fossil fuels, geothermal energy is stable and unaffected by fluctuating global energy markets, and, crucially, it produces no greenhouse gases at the point of use.
Unlike many other renewable energy sources, geothermal energy is scalable. Investing in geothermal heating isn’t just an environmental choice—it’s a strategic economic decision.
For example, a small city such as Luleå, located in northern Sweden, experiences long, harsh winters, with temperatures often plunging below freezing. Luleå could warm its entire population of nearly 80,000 people with a few hundred wells.
Because a single well takes up less area than a doormat, geothermal heating is well-suited to densely populated cities such as London. With nearly nine million inhabitants, London could be heated with approximately 60,000 geothermal wells and could use its existing district heating networks to distribute geothermal energy.
European cities like Munich and several cities in the Netherlands are currently exploring geothermal energy solutions as part of their transition to sustainable heat.
What is standing in the way of a large-scale energy transformation?
Adopting geothermal energy requires initial investments in drilling and infrastructure. However, geothermal systems have low operational costs once they are established.
With heating expenses on the rise globally, a geothermal network could provide residents with a stable, affordable heating source that isn’t subject to the volatility of fossil fuel prices. These long-term cost savings help offset the initial investment.
The primary obstacles standing in the way are institutional inertia and aversion to unfamiliar technologies.
Because geothermal energy is not as visually prominent as solar or wind power, it can be harder for decision-makers and the public to fully comprehend its potential. However, success stories like Paris demonstrate that the technology has significant promise as a reliable, sustainable heating solution.
Large-scale energy transformation requires bold leadership and a willingness to move beyond outdated, emissions-heavy systems. Now is the time for forward-thinking cities to embrace scalable geothermal technologies and set an example for the future.
Are you interested in transforming your city’s energy systems? Contact the QHeat team to explore how our scalable geothermal solutions can help you achieve your climate goals.
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