From October 20 to 22, 2025, the Laias thermal spa in the province of Ourense (Galicia, Spain), became the European hub for sustainable thermalism. The ThermEcoWat project organized a workshop there, bringing together researchers, thermal spa managers, and local authorities from France, Spain, and Portugal. The ThermEcoWat project organised there a transnational workshop bringing together researchers, managers of thermal facilities and local authorities from France, Spain and Portugal.
Workshop Objective: Sharing and Testing Sustainable Solutions
The workshop aimed to:
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present the preliminary results of the ThermEcoWat project, focused on the preservation of thermal waters in the face of climate change;
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promote the exchange of best practices among European thermal territories;
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transform the diagnostic phase into operational adaptation pathways for each pilot site of the project.
The work focused on the sites of:
- Chaudes Aigues (France) – geothermal heritage and local energy transition;
- Caldes de Montbui (Spain) – water resource management and urban planning;
- São Pedro do Sul (Portugal) – post-disaster recovery and resilience of thermal ecosystems.
During the working sessions, the national teams classified and prioritised the measures identified in the project’s knowledge graph, examined their technical, legal and economic feasibility, and considered their integration into local climate-change adaptation strategies.
A Comprehensive Program Combining Conferences and Field Activities
The workshop included:
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Conferences and roundtables on thermal source resilience and climate adaptation strategies;
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Technical visits to the main thermal spas of Ourense, such as A Chavasqueira and As Burgas, as well as the University of Vigo campus, to observe geothermal applications and heat reuse projects;
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Transnational working groups, where researchers and local stakeholders exchanged practices and identified transferable solutions for other territories.
The discussions highlighted both strong convergences among European thermal cities (need for integrated water governance, shared energy-recovery systems, strengthened regulatory frameworks) and challenges specific to each local context.
A Mobilized European Consortium
The event brought together:
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BRGM experts (France) and public geological centers from Spain and Portugal (ICGC, CN IGME CSIC, LNEG);
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Local thermal operators and authorities from Portugal (Termalistur – Termas de São Pedro do Sul E.M. S.A) and Spain (Ajuntament de Caldes de Montbui – ES), emphasizing collaboration and co-design of sustainable solutions;
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the Diputación Provincial de Ourense, which hosted and coordinated the workshop.
Why Ourense?
The province is an emblematic territory for thermalism:
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rich in historical thermal springs in the heart of Galicia;
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a pioneer in the sustainable and innovative exploitation of thermal waters;
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ideal for observing and testing climate adaptation strategies developed by ThermEcoWat on-site.
Outlook
This workshop represents a key milestone in the ThermEcoWat project:
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lessons learned in Ourense will be integrated into the action plans for pilot sites in France, Spain, and Portugal;
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they will enable the implementation of tools and methodologies to help thermal territories sustainably manage their water resources and energy potential;
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it also prepares the dissemination of best practices to other European territories.
This Transnational Workshop also gave the ThermEcoWat partners the opportunity to meet the Lead Partner of the European AQUAPRED project and to visit one of their pilot sites, also co-financed by the SUDOE Programme.