A DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM FOR SMALL MUNICIPALITIES ? THIS IS POSSIBLE!

District heating systems are recognized for their key role in the use of renewable and recovered energy; they are one of the most efficient solutions for turning towns green and cutting the costs of fossil energies. This virtuous solution is suitable for the entire French territory, from large conurbations to small and medium-sized municipalities.

And yet, the process of creating a district heating system can seem complex for the smallest municipalities: it is essential to inform them and heighten their awareness about how a district heating system works and its advantages.

Our goal? Do a tour of France’s municipalities to help disseminate knowledge about district heating systems and accelerate their adoption in France, more particularly by municipalities with under 15,000 inhabitants.

In September we held our first webinar for the municipalities in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. An event backed by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Énergie Environnement (AURA-EE), Via Sèva and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ADEME.

On the programme:

• A presentation of the European and national legislative context,
• Main characteristics and related benefits,
• Options and procedures for initiating a project,
• Examples of creations in France and Europe.

District heating system in Lizy-sur-Ourcq (77)

• 3,500 inhabitants, in Seine-et-Marne,
• An 800 metre long system,
• Over 80% of the heat is generated thanks to wood,
• An 80% reduction in carbon emissions,
• Heat supplied to 350 homes, a secondary school and a gym,
• A 40% reduction in the energy bill compared with gas.

The district heating system of La Ville-aux-Dames (37)

• 5,300 inhabitants, in Indre et Loire,
• 530 running metres of the network to be built,
• 630 MWh of energy to deliver per year,
• 90% of the heat to be generated thanks to wood,
• 63 equivalent homes supplied.

The district heating system of Plouzane (29)

• 12,500 inhabitants, in Finistère,
• A 4.5 kilometre long network
• 12 GWh of energy delivered per year,
• 80% of the heat is generated thanks to wood,
• 1,200 equivalent homes supplied

The Law on Energy Transition for Green Growth has set a target of 39.5 TWh of heat generated by renewable and recovered energy by 2030.

To meet these targets, the national master plan for district heating systems developed by MANERGY and Via Sèva with the backing of SNCU and with funding from ADEME, includes 1,340 new systems to deploy over 8 years, 93% of which in towns with under 15,000 inhabitants.

Developing district heating systems in municipalities is a real lever for accelerating the energy transition of territories. Towns can obtain funding for putting this project in place: crowdfunding, grants and aids, or even private financing.

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