The ambitious 65-hectare urban development project, Ferney Genève Innovation, has just reached a major milestone in its decarbonization journey.
The first building has now been connected to the geothermal borehole field designed and installed by Celsius Energy and its consortium.
Led by SPL Terrinnov, the Ferney Genève Innovation eco-district aims to deliver by 2030:
195,000 m² of commercial and activity spaces (hotels, offices, cultural center, retail hub, conference, sports and wellness facilities)
2,500 residential units
15,000 m² of public infrastructure
To provide heating and cooling to buildings across the eco-district, a pioneering energy system has been developed — a first of its kind in France: a Thermal Energy Network that will also recover waste heat from CERN, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator.
This innovative approach leverages shared geothermal resources and the complementary heating and cooling needs of buildings. The result? 5,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided every year.
Celsius Energy, as part of a dedicated consortium, was selected to design and build the three geothermal borehole fields connected to this loop — a record-breaking project in France with nearly 40,000 linear meters of boreholes drilled.
The YAKI building, developed by Bart Patriarche, is the first to be connected to the geothermal borehole system installed by Celsius Energy and its partners. Its initial tenants — including Foncia, the APAJH Federation, Crossroads, and local government services — will now benefit from low-carbon heating and cooling supplied by geothermal energy.
Project highlights:
27 geothermal boreholes, including 11 angled
127.1 kW of heating capacity delivered to the building
306.9 kW of cooling capacity delivered to the building
Advanced thermal storage technology
Long-term energy efficiency
Reduced environmental impact through the use of a renewable natural resource
This large-scale project, with its innovative approach and technical achievements, stands as a key reference for Celsius Energy in developing Thermal Energy Networks. We are already applying similar solutions internationally — in Framingham, Massachusetts, and in North London for social housing.
A powerful example of how geothermal energy can help drive the energy transition of entire communities.
Copyright (c) Bart| Patriarche
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