The launch of geothermal drilling operations at Garges-lès-Gonesse, France
The project’s launch was marked by a ceremony attended by key figures: Benoît Jimenez, Mayor of Garges-lès-Gonesse and Regional Councilor of Île-de-France; Philippe Court, Prefect of Val-d’Oise; Amélie Renaud, Regional Director of ADEME Île-de-France; Olivier Blond, Special Delegate for Environmental Health and Air Pollution Control in Île-de-France; and Yves Lederer, President of the Coriance Group. Their presence highlighted the project’s importance to the region.
The initiative carries a total cost of EUR 65 million, with funding from ADEME (EUR 25 million) and the Île-de-France region (EUR 3 million). The drilling targets the Dogger formation, a geothermal resource 1,600 meters underground, expected to yield water at 65 °C. The process unfolds in two stages: from mid-March to early June, followed by late June to late July.
To engage the community, educational spaces have been established for primary school children, residents, and local groups to explore the heating network and geothermal energy. Visits can be booked through the Espace Pédagogique – Energie Verte de Garges website.
Once complete, the 19.6-kilometer heating network will draw energy from multiple sources: geothermal energy (62%), waste heat from the SIAH wastewater treatment plant in Bonneuil-en-France (35%), and biogas (3%). This local heat production will power homes, schools, and sports facilities. By relying on these resources, the town expects to cut CO2 emissions by 20,000 tonnes annually—equivalent to removing 16,667 cars from the road.
Energie Verte de Garges, a Coriance Group subsidiary, has managed the project since 2023, when it was contracted by the town. It has already taken over the Dame Blanche Nord district’s network, built 9.1 kilometers of new piping—serving the equivalent of 4,800 homes—and constructed a 1,000-square-meter facility on Rue Denis Papin. This building houses essential equipment like heat pumps and exchangers.
Earlier in 2025, the Coriance Group also began drilling for a geothermal doublet in Alfortville, another Paris suburb, showing its growing role in regional energy projects. The Garges-lès-Gonesse system reflects a practical blend of renewable energy and local infrastructure, aiming to deliver sustainable heating while reducing environmental impact.
