The first fifth generation district heating and cooling network is under development at the University campus of Paris-Saclay, using a combination of waste heat and geothermal power • The City of Compiègne has started to construct a biomass boiler to supply the city’s heating network with more renewable energy • In the Issy Coeur de Ville district in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, heating and cooling supplied by geothermal energy is under development • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from France
The university area, consisting of an urban campus with a surface area of 2.3 mn m2, uses a combination of waste heat and geothermal power to supply a nearly 30km long network. It recently increased its power capacity by connecting an additional energy source, recovered heat from the super-calculator of the research institution CNRS. On its own, it could supply the heat consumption of more than 1,000 homes per year. The network complements this energy by drawing hot water from the Albien groundwater with the help of thermo-fridge-pumps. The source has large water reserves with an average temperature of 30°C. A centralized gas boiler then provides an occasional back-up, e.g., during the winter-season consumption peaks.
The project has been in progress since 2019 and has received 10 mn EUR in funding from the French Energy Agency (ADEME). The network is managed by the network operator the Idex group.
Read more in article by Les Echos here
Read more in article by Actu Environnement here
The 16km long heating network currently consists of 66 substations, which collectively supply domestic hot water and heating to 9,000 housing units. The new 14 MW boiler room will help reduce annual emissions of 12,000 tons of CO2 and guarantee network subscribers an energy provision at a stable price and with a reduced VAT rate. The city’s production, processing, and use of renewable energy is organized in a short circuit. The wood used in the boiler (including pallet and salvaged wood from forest maintenance) will have a local and direct supply where 80% is collected within a radius of less than 100 km.
The French network operator Engie Solutions has been in charge of the development of the city’s heating network since 2019. This project has received funding from the French Heat Fund (managed by ADEME).
Read more in article by DHC News here
Read more in press release by Engie Solutions here
Individual air conditioners have proved to be very polluting, in particular during the summer seasons. The heating and cooling network thus needed to explore alternative energy solutions to meet the new objectives of cooling delivery, set by the French Multi-year Energy Program (to-be attained by 2028). The geothermal project includes the installation of an ice storage and four thermo-fridge-pumps, that will produce heating and cooling simultaneously.
ADEME has supported the project with 532,000 EUR and Engie Solutions, mandated by Altarea, is managing the works. In sum, the project involves the installation and cabling of high voltage substations, electricity provision, hydraulic interventions, a geothermal connection, 18 substations, and heating- and cooling production equipment. The project will generate an estimated 600 tons of CO2 savings and help the city supply the district with an average of 73% renewable energy.
Read more in article by DHC News here
Read more in press release by Engie Solutions here
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