Nearly three Earths would be required if the entire world's population adopted the lifestyle and electricity consumption of Parisians. With 15 per cent of the total French consumption, Ile-de-France (IDF) and its capital city, Paris, is the leading region for energy consumption in France. However, the region produces a mere 11 per cent of the energy it consumes.

The region aims to change this: “The Regional Council aims to make the « Ile de France » an eco-region that becomes a benchmark for sustainable development” says Michel Vampouille Vice-Chairman of 'Île-de-France, responsible for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Eco-Region[1].

To make the region of IDF Europe's first eco-region, the Regional Council acts to further protect natural areas, to fight against pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and to support renewable energy production. To reduce the energy consumption and the environmental footprint of the Ile-de-France, the region will focus on "green" energy, particularly the local generation of power from renewable sources.

The main source of renewable energy at a local and regional level is heat from the earth: 80 percent of France’s geothermal energy potential is concentrated in Ile-de-France. This triggered the region Ile de France to adopt a stimulus plan for geothermal energy, which includes: support for a risk hedge fund, the creation of new boreholes and rehabilitation of existing boreholes. More than 150,000 housing units benefit from this kind of district heating and it represents a saving of more than 100,000 tonnes of oil equivalent per year, avoiding the emission of nearly 30 000 tonnes of CO2 annually. 30,000 new housing units are expected to benefit from geothermal by 2013 and in 2011 the Paris-Orly airport became Europe’s first European airport to be heated in this way.

With the “Dogger”, this layer of warm water lying between 1,500 and 1,800 meters below the basin of Paris, Ile-de-France is exemplary for geothermal energy. 34 facilities, called doublets (because they have two wells, one to lift the hot water, the other to restore it), provide heat the equivalent of 142 000 homes.; a beautiful renaissance for an industry that has not experienced new installations for almost 20 years.

A second aspect of the local production of energy is the "solar thermal" program. The goal of the region is the installation of 80,000 square meters of solar collectors in social housing and 40,000 square metres in area in communities, condominiums and associations. The emission of 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year would be avoided. The owners of houses in the region can now obtain
financial assistance from the Region Ile de France for the installation of solar water heaters and solar combined individual central heating. This funding complements the regional tax credit rate of 50% granted by the State to individuals for the purchase of this equipment.

 

 

The region produced 6.6 TWh of electricity in 2005, with 45% from conventional thermal power plants, the largest being the oil-fuelled power station of EDF Porcheville (Yvelines). But the main characteristic of power production in IDF is cogeneration or combined heat and power; a plant that simultaneously produces heat and electricity. 117 installations produce the cumulative electrical power of 943 MW, the equivalent of a nuclear reactor.

 

As part of this project, the Region and the ADEME(Agency for Environment and Energy Management) support the creation of local energy agencies (FTA), the competent administrative structures that contribute to public awareness of the various energy issues. These structures also help to support the contractors in the implementation of various programs.

The policies implemented by such important regions as IDF, in terms of population and economy, are crucial as “the region is located at a crucial level, between the local and national level, and represents an essential tool to give substance to sustainable development efficient and modern with its ability to discuss and implement the broad guidelines of public policy” says J.P. Huchon, President of the region IDF[2].
 

Submited by Refer

• France
• Ile-de-France
• Renewable energy