Auvergne Thermale in Sao Pedro do Sul, Portugal
The Thermauvergne association recently participated in a transnational workshop in Sao Pedro do Sul, the largest thermal resort in Portugal, from 8 to 10 April. This meeting is part of the European ThermEcoWat project, which aims to promote sustainable and innovative management of thermal resources on a South-West European scale.
Alongside experts from BRGM, CNRS, NB Énergie and William Terry Conseil, the Thermauvergne team was able to discover the facilities of the Thermal Baths of Sao Pedro do Sul, which are visited by more than 10,000 spa guests each year. With naturally hot water at 68°C and a flow rate of 60 m³/h, the Portuguese resort has set up a heat recovery platform to heat its infrastructure and neighbouring hotels – a good example of energy transition applied to hydrotherapy.
Workshop highlights
• The presentation of the Portuguese thermal model, combining medical care, well-being, tourism and energy performance.
• The comparative study of climate scenarios for France, Spain and Portugal.
• The analysis of pilot cases, including Chaudes-Aigues in France, to identify the specific challenges of each territory.
• A technical tour of the facilities in São Pedro do Sul.
• The launch of legal work to understand how national legal frameworks can promote or hinder certain innovations, such as the reuse of thermal waters or energy recovery.
Chaudes-Aigues, known for having the warmest waters in Europe, plays a central role in the project as a French pilot case. It is currently conducting a reflection at the local level to optimize the management of its water resources, inspired by the good practices identified at the European level.
A European project at the heart of climate issues
Funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme, ThermEcoWat brings together eight partners from France, Spain and Portugal. This project is part of a transnational and multidisciplinary approach, to strengthen the resilience of spas to climate change, while exploring innovative and sustainable solutions.
