PIROS

Within the framework of the European cross-border cooperation programme Interreg POCTEFA, PIROS is a project whose overall objective is to promote research and innovation in the field of the energy transition through the assessment, integration and valorisation of geothermal energy as a renewable energy source in cross-border mountain areas between Spain, Andorra and France. The project aims to consolidate scientific knowledge of the hydrothermal systems of the Pyrenees and to establish the basis for their sustainable exploitation.

In the Pyrenees, hydrothermal systems extend on both sides of the border. These systems are manifested at the surface by different hot water springs in the different regions, but they could belong to a single system controlled by the same geological structures. For this reason, their study must be approached beyond geopolitical borders. In addition, the management of geothermal energy (and its impacts) as a sustainable natural resource also requires cross-border collaboration and the participation and agreement of the agents responsible for the territory. The project is led by the University of Barcelona, and its partners include AR+I, the Catalan Institute of Cartography and Geology (ICGC), the University of Paris–Saclay, the Alt Urgell County Council, and the National Centre for Scientific Research – Occitanie East (CNRS/DR13).

Thanks to this project, improvements are expected in the scientific knowledge of Andorra’s geothermal potential, facilitating informed decision-making in energy policies and strengthening energy sovereignty and the fight against climate change. The main expected results for Andorra include a model of the geothermal system, reports on temperature, depth, sustainability and possible uses of geothermal energy, and a practical guide for geothermal planning.