Economic assessment of the deployment of deep geothermal energy in the Centre-Val de Loire Region
The Laboratoire d’Economie d’Orléans (LEO) and BRGM are offering a 12-month post-doctoral position for an
Economic assessment of the deployment of deep geothermal energy in the Centre-Val de Loire Region: integrated analysis of socio-economic costs, impacts and benefits, and comparison with other renewable energies
This contract particpates to the regional interest project (APR IR 2023) AMIGO (Argumentaire pour le déploiement de la Géothermie profonde en Région Centre – Val de Loire), financed by the Centre-Val de Loire Region and led by the Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière (BRGM), its economic component being handled by the Laboratoire d’Economie d’Orléans (LEO).
The AMIGO regional project aims to evaluate and promote the deployment of deep geothermal energy in the Centre Val de Loire region. As a mature and local renewable energy, geothermal energy has a potential in the Centre Val de Loire region that has yet to be fully exploited.
As part of an interdisciplinary project, the candidate will be tasked with carrying out an integrated assessment of the cost of geothermal energy, as well as the financial and regulatory levers that can be implemented to promote it. This assessment will be based on the information gathered in the other tasks of the project in terms of geological prospecting, risk assessment, and correspondence with local needs for heat (district heating, greenhouse gases, other needs) and energy. It will enable a comparison to be made with other locally available sources of renewable energy, which could complement geothermal energy supply.
This comparison will go beyond a mere examination of technical and economic variables to take into account the socio-economic impacts and benefits of deploying this renewable energy. All the results obtained will contribute to the drafting of a set of arguments aimed at the various players who are potentially interested in, and able to mobilise, the deployment of deep geothermal energy in the Centre Val de Loire region.
The candidate, who has a doctorate in economics or a doctorate in engineering with a good background in economics, should be familiar with technical and economic valuation tools (CAPEX-OPEX) and multi-agent/multi-criteria socio-economic valuation methods. A good knowledge of energy economics and the challenges of climate change economics and energy transition will be appreciated. The contract will be for one year and will start in March 2024. It will be based at the Orléans Laboratory of Economics of the University of Orléans and BRGM at its Orléans site.
It will be placed under the direction of Mr Xavier Galiègue, and will work in cooperation with the members of the LEO’s International Economics and Sustainable Development team. He/she will work closely with the BRGM team (Geothermal and Energy Storage Unit) working on the various tasks of the AMIGO project. The net salary is set at around €2065 per month.
Applications should be sent to Mr Xavier GALIEGUE, before 31 January 2024, together with a CV, a cover letter and a copy of the candidate doctoral diploma.