In the new district of Sète, thalassothermy at the service of the energy transition

Une technologie de pointe, encore rare en France. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Avec ses plusieurs kilomètres de tuyaux le système de thalassothermie qui va alimenter énergie le futur quartier exploite l’eau de mer pour créer de la chaleur ou du froid.

To heat, or cool if necessary, the entire real estate portfolio of the Concerted Development Zone (ZAC), an innovative thalassothermy system was set up and installed in the basement of one of the buildings. A real factory, which uses seawater pumped a few hundred meters away by a pumping station which will come into operation in 2026.

An innovative concept

"The water is pumped between four and six meters deep to guarantee temperature stability&quot ;, explains the site manager. It is then brought into contact with a fresh water circuit through a heat exchanger, which transfers the calories from the sea water without mixing. The latter is then released unpolluted into the natural environment while the fresh water is connected to reversible heat pumps which distribute the energy produced according to needs.

17 kilometers of pipes

This system which includes no less than 17 kilometers of pipe is a technology "at the same time very technical, very  expensive and very virtuous< /em>", said Christophe Claire, director of the Thau Littoral Development Company. With a total cost of 11 million euros, this project should make it possible to avoid releasing more than 4,600 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.< /p>