Expert Interview:How Celsius Energy’s Solution Simplifies and Expands Geoenergy Adoption

2024 has been a commercially successful year for Celsius Energy, marked by several major contracts. Notably, we have established new partnerships with industrial clients focused on energy renovations for their buildings. For these clients, managing energy price volatility is critical, as reducing exposure to fluctuating costs is key to maintaining economic competitiveness. Geoenergy has proven to be an ideal solution for this challenge.  

In addition, we’ve observed growing interest in geoenergy within the multifamily homes sector. A significant milestone this year is our contract with a social housing provider to renovate a 133-unit building in southern France. This project has a dual purpose: controlling energy costs for tenants—often low-income households affected by rising energy prices—and enhancing their quality of life with cooling solutions during increasingly hot summers in this region. 

We are also proud to work on projects in a unique sector: historic buildings, which are cultural landmarks. Integrating sustainable solutions into these heritage sites supports their preservation while preparing them for the future. 

This year, we completed the renovation of the Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes headquarters in Corenc (France). This project involved an 8,000 sqm office building, with goals to cut energy bills in half and reduce carbon emissions by five times—both of which were successfully achieved. 

The project exemplifies the strength of Celsius Energy's turnkey solutions. During the drilling phase, our teams swiftly adapted to unexpected subsoil conditions. Our in-house design office promptly redesigned the geoenergy system's probe field geometry to align with the terrain, keeping the project on schedule. 

Another remarkable aspect of this project was the strong collaboration between Celsius Energy and Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est, the general contractor overseeing the site renovation. Our innovative inclined probe technology and drilling-optimization software minimized the footprint of the geoenergy system in a space-constrained area, meeting project specifications and enhancing cooperation throughout the 8-month timeline. 

The performance of our installations often exceeds initial expectations, which is incredibly rewarding for the Celsius Energy team. For instance, a specialized medical facility by the Emeis Group in Brittany has been operational for 24 months and now ranks among the most energy-efficient in its category. Since commissioning, the facility has achieved a 71% reduction in energy consumption, surpassing the 69% predicted during the feasibility study. 

This project demonstrates how geoenergy acts as a protective energy shield, ensuring reliability and sustainability. Without our solution, the clinic’s energy costs would have more than doubled. From the client’s perspective, the geoenergy solution is expected to pay off within six years. The cumulative energy savings compared to the initial investment reveal a highly favorable economic outcome, encouraging broader adoption of our solutions. 

Encouraged by these results, we are expanding our support for clients during the operational phase of their geoenergy systems. Our digital operational support solution optimizes system performance by "learning" from the building operations and real-time occupant needs. At its most advanced level, this service includes a performance guarantee, effectively de-risking the initial investment and ensuring long-term peace of mind for our clients.