Safran Villaroche replaces gas at its engine plant with local energy

At Villaroche, Safran Aircraft Engines' plant is replacing gas at one of its largest production sites with local, low-carbon heat drawn from a depth of 1,650 m.

CLIENT

Safran Aircraft Engines

LOCATION

Villaroche (77)

SECTOR

Industry

SOLUTION

Drilling & Works - deep geothermal energy

Geothermal doublet at the Safran Aircraft Engines site

What this project delivers

84 %

Geothermal doublet at the Safran Aircraft Engines site

6 500 t

of CO₂ avoided per year

75 %

reduction in carbon emissions from site heating

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

"We are delighted to benefit from the proven expertise of Dalkia and Arverne in deep geothermal energy as we pursue our goal of reducing CO2 emissions across our industrial sites.

This strategic partnership fully reflects our commitment to a decarbonized industry.”

Delphine Berilloux

Director of Human and Social Responsibility, in charge of Safran Aircraft Engines sites

Context

In Villaroche, Seine-et-Marne, Safran’s engine plant is one of the group’s main production sites, with more than 5,000 employees. Engines for Airbus, Boeing and Rafale aircraft are assembled there. To reduce the site’s carbon footprint, in line with the group’s target (−50% CO₂ emissions by 2030 vs 2018), Safran partnered with Dalkia and Arverne. The site will become the first industrial site in the Paris region (Île-de-France) with a deep geothermal plant.

Key challenges

Replace the gas boilers of a very large industrial site with low-carbon energy.
Align with Safran’s roadmap: −50% CO₂ emissions by 2030 (vs 2018).
Drill deep without disrupting a plant in continuous operation.

Our work

Arverne is drilling a deep doublet using a new hydro-electric rig that is more compact and quieter.

2 wells drilled to 1,650 m into the Dogger aquifer.
Water drawn at around 75 °C, coupled with heat pumps and an upgraded network.
Production well completed; plant commissioning scheduled for autumn 2026.

Results

Once commissioned, the plant will make Safran Villaroche a pioneer of industrial geothermal energy in the Paris region:

84% of the site’s gas replaced, over time, by local, low-carbon energy.
6,500 tonnes of CO₂ avoided every year once the plant is in operation.
The first industrial site in the Paris region with a plant of this kind.

Beyond the Villaroche site

This project shows that an industrial site in full operation can reconcile performance with a smaller environmental footprint. It opens up new prospects for the decarbonization of industrial activities.

THE PROJECT IN PICTURES

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Devenez actionnaire de la géothermie

Arverne développe une dizaine de projets comme celui-ci partout en France. Une augmentation de capital est ouverte aux particuliers pour accélérer leur déploiement.

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Safran Aircraft Engines

At Villaroche, Safran’s engine plant will replace the gas used at one of its largest production sites with local, low-carbon heat drawn from a depth of 1,650 m.