(en) France, Alternative Libertaire Alsace - Geothermal:
Strasbourg, capital of green capitalism soon? (fr) [machine
translation]
As part of the Climate Plan 2009 Energy instances of the Urban Community of Strasbourg
(oops, I must say now ... Eurométropole megalomania, when you hold us!) Have decided to
turn the city into "eco-city". Gas bus, tram, new neighborhoods under construction
standards BBC ... and green energy. ---- Conquering green energy ---- In energy, heating
takes on a prominent place. The connection to the network of waste incinerator producing
heat for Neuhof and Meinau, the new wood boiler Wacken, anaerobic wastewater. These three
sites represent "diversity" belong to private operators. The big piece of the envelope
energy transition, however, would be to deep geothermal energy. The unique capabilities of
the Alsatian basement, especially in the Strasbourg area will transform the city in the
laboratory and global heat showcase for a single operating company: Fonroche.
The company, founded in 2008 and specialized in photovoltaics, was grown wings with the
entry into its capital of Eurazeo. The finance company then transforms the soldier in the
tank. The purpose of Fonroche becomes that of conquering the global market for sustainable
energy, photovoltaic, biogas and geothermal energy. With massive investment, there are
four geothermal power plants that the operator plans to build in Strasbourg (Robertsau
Eckbolsheim and Vendenheim, the fourth is in discussion court) grabbing 80% of the heat
production in the city. These plants are planned for depreciation over 30 years of
operation, 30 years in the hands of a single company or its customers. At a time when many
communities in France trying to recover the water management , following various disasters
and scandals of private companies to handle those , Strasbourg decides to take advantage
of public policies promoting energy transition to enrich ... a private company!
And besides, geothermal is not the perfect solution to meet ecological challenge!
Collateral damage
Geothermal principle is to pump hot water to extract heat and circulate well in the
network. The cooled water is reinjected into the circuit, quietly cooling source to
exhaustion and cessation of activity (estimated at 30 years). Making it a non-renewable
resource.
The following map shows against a central, well and plunging 5000m underground. A closed
circuit heat generator and electricity from cogeneration.
But this type of installation causes some problems:
? The pressure injected into the boreholes was the source of earthquakes causing damage in
the city of Basel, leading to the abandonment of the geothermal project in this city.
These shakes are the result of a voluntary relief as they occur in networks hydrolic
fracturing for shale gas extraction. The Strasbourg system is without fracturing, but the
risk remains. The captured water is radioactive and inevitably contaminates all the
material in contact with it. During operation, the plant will be under control of the
Nuclear Safety Authority. Its dismantling in 30 years will be extremely complicated and
potentially dangerous. The lines can leak, causing contamination of the groundwater of
the city, which has already happened in Landau.
New energy or traditional recipe?
Geothermal energy is environmentally questionable as the operation is politically.
Technological developments are done in collaboration with universities, government
subsidies launched the beast, the result of the operation returns to private. And damage
is to the right people.
Very few deep geothermal projects have now been established and no at the same place. We
can not let the expansion of this new "jewel" technology, which includes uncontrolled
risks ... and not insured in France.
Published February 19, 2015 by CAL Alsace
http://alsace.alternativelibertaire.org/spip.php?article667
