# On the challenges behind deep geothermal energy: ecological modernization or false solution? A compared case-studies between France and Switzerland

Justin Missaghieh-Poncet

► To cite this version:

Justin Missaghieh-Poncet. On the challenges behind deep geothermal energy: ecological modernization or false solution? A compared case-studies between France and Switzerland. American Association of Geographers annual meeting (2022), Feb 2022, New-York, United States., 2022. hal-03641479

HAL Id: hal-03641479

https://univ-pau.hal.science/hal-03641479

Submitted on 14 Apr 2022

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
# On the challenges behind deep geothermal energy: ecological modernization or false solution? A comparative case studies between France and Switzerland

Justin Missaghieh--Poncet

justin.missaghieh-poncet@univ-pau.fr

PhD student, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, TREE, Pau, France

## ① INTRODUCTION

* **Energy transition.** Geothermal energy presented as unlimited, "green" and no intermittency energy.
* The technology has been **developed in sedimentary basins** (i.e. Paris Basin).
* But needs to adapt to **new geological environments**.
* We are interested in the **difficulties of deploying geothermal energy outside of favourable environments**

## ② HOW DOES DEEP GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORK?

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>Figure 1: Simplified illustration of a geothermal power plant</figcaption></figure>

* Technology is based on a doublet
* Recovery of a **hot fluid at depth** (1500-5000m)
* Use of the heat or transformation into electricity

Missaghieh--Poncet J., 2021

## ③ CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

* The **subsoil is becoming politicized** (Arnauld De Sartre, Chailleux 2021).
* **Verticalization territories:** Greater awareness of the subsoil's existence and the necessity to 'secure' against seismic risk (Bobbette, Donovan 2019).
* **Sociology of translation** (Callon 1986): help to understand the debates between different actors.

## ④ METHODOLOGY AND FIELDWORK

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Figure 2: Location of case studies</figcaption></figure>

* **Implementation of pilot projects** in France and Switzerland
* France: new private companies
* Switzerland: How to replace nuclear energy?
* Methodology: **semi-structured interviews** and **press analysis**

<caption>Location of case studies</caption>

## ⑤ CONSTRUCTION OF A VERTICAL TERRITORY

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Figure 3: Main significant results</figcaption></figure>

## ⑥ CONCLUSIONS

* **Verticalization** : Geothermal energy has made it possible to integrate the issue of the subsoil into the political and public spheres.
* Debates on **energy transition policies**, sometimes questioning geothermal technology.
* Due to a **lack of good multi-level coordination**, a technology that is inadequately supported is weakened during crises.

## REFERENCES

ARNAULD DE SARTRE, Xavier et CHAILLEUX, Sébastien, 2021. Introduction. L'incomplète mise en politique du sous-sol français. Natures Sciences Sociétés [en ligne]. 2021.DOI 10.1051/nss/2021048.

BOBBETTE, Adam et DONOVAN, Amy (éd.), 2019. Political Geology: Active Stratigraphies and the Making of Life. 1st ed. 2019. Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-319-98189-5. 333.707

CALLON, Michel, 1986. Éléments pour une sociologie de la traduction: la domestication des coquilles saint-jacques et des marins-pêcheurs dans la baie de saint-Brieuc. L'Année sociologique (1940/1948-). 1986. Vol. 36, pp. 169-208.

## FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Laboratory *Transitions énergétiques et environnementales* website: https://tree.univ-pau.fr/
Research project *Gouvernance élargie pour les filières d'ingénierie du sous-sol* website: https://www.gefiss.eu/

Please send an e-mail at justin.missaghieh-poncet@univ-pau.fr if you have any question or comment.