Stellantis has unveiled a cutting-edge geothermal system at its manufacturing site in Caen, France, designed to provide sustainable heating and cooling solutions for the facility.
The system will independently meet 30% of the site's energy needs, delivering heat for the buildings and cooling for industrial operations.
The project, completed in just 10 months, involved installing 3 km of piping, 12 advanced air handling units, and three heat pumps. This innovative approach has significantly reduced the site’s environmental impact, cutting CO2 emissions by 75%, gas consumption by 70%, and water usage by 15%.
Marking a milestone for both Stellantis and the French industrial sector, the Caen facility is one of the nation’s first to adopt geothermal energy at this scale. The initiative aligns with Stellantis' broader environmental goals, which include achieving carbon neutrality by 2028.
Looking ahead, the Caen facility plans to expand its geothermal capacity through additional drilling, further bolstering its commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
Stellantis is extending its geothermal energy initiatives to its industrial sites in Mulhouse, France, and Rüsselsheim, Germany, in collaboration with Vulcan Energy Resources, a leader in geothermal and lithium extraction. Additionally, Stellantis has invested in Vulcan Energy Resources and Controlled Thermal Resources, both of which are pioneering technologies to directly extract lithium from geothermal brine, furthering the company’s commitment to sustainable energy and resource innovation.
"This installation is essential for reducing the site’s CO2 emissions. It also constitutes a performance lever for our installations in Normandy. Thanks to it, we can reduce our energy expenditure and reduce our dependence on market fluctuations," said Stephane Lozach, director of the Caen site.