Lyon votes to construct the city's fourth district heating network, supplying 25,000 homes • Paris District Heating Network to Expand Service to Chapelle Charbon • Saint-Lô Initiates Tender for Biomass-Powered District Heating Network • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from France
On Monday, June 24, the plan for a new heating network for the Metropole de Lyon received approval by the Metropolitan Council. Set to become one of the largest in France, the network will require a substantial investment of over 200 million euros and will serve several towns including Tassin-la-Demi-Lune, Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, Francheville, and La Tour-de-Salvagny, as well as Lyon’s 9th and 5th arrondissements.
The new heating network aims to cover a significant portion of western Lyon. Despite the technical challenges, the possibility of extending the network to include Craponne is under consideration as this would increase the network coverage. The Metropole de Lyon has also identified potential sites for wood-fired boilers in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon and Craponne, as well as potential plants in Lyon’s 9th arrondissement.
The network will operate under a 25-year public service delegation contract, delivering 240 GWh of renewable heat annually. The tendering process is set to commence this summer, with construction expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Bruno Bernard, President of the Metropole de Lyon, highlighted the significance of this project, stating, “The development of heating networks is a priority for the Metropole, as they are a major solution for ecological and social transition. While no heating network of this scale has been launched on our territory for 50 years, since 2020 we have initiated the creation of three new heating networks. This new network in western Lyon will provide renewable energy to the equivalent of 25,000 homes at a competitive price.” With the addition of the West Lyon network, the Metropole aims to have 200,000 housing equivalents connected or in progress by 2026.
Read more in article from Mes Infos
Read more in article from Lyon Capitale
Compagnie Parisienne de Chauffage Urbain (CPCU) and Paris & Métropole Aménagement (P&Ma) have signed an agreement to supply sustainable heating for the new eco-friendly Chapelle Charbon district in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. The project will transform a former rail logistics site into 34,000 m² of energy-efficient buildings, powered by an extension of Paris’s district heating network.
Beginning in mid-June, a 730-meter hot water loop will distribute heat to residences, schools, and businesses in the district, with over 50% of the energy sourced from renewable and recovered materials. This loop, connected to the city’s main steam network via a 5 MW heat exchange station in the neighboring Hebert eco-neighborhood, will ensure efficient and eco-friendly energy distribution.
The low-temperature water at 65°C will reduce heat loss by nearly 50% compared to water at 85°c. This type of low-temperature network will also enable local renewable energy production, such as heat pumps, to be added to the system at a later date in the event of further development of the district. The system is planned to deliver approximately 1.8 GWh of heat annually, aligning with the environmental goals of the Chapelle Charbon ZAC development project.
Read more in article from Construction Cayola
Read more in article from Le journal du Grand Paris
In May 2024, the town of Saint-Lô launched a call for tenders to deploy a district heating network in the town. According to the local authority, this major project will stabilize heating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The network will primarily be powered by a biomass boiler plant and is planned to supply approximately 100 buildings in total. According to the tender documents, the future concessionaire will be responsible for financing, designing, constructing, and operating the network under a 25-year Public Service Concession Agreement, set to begin on June 1, 2025. Jérôme Virlouvet, first deputy mayor in charge of ecological transition in Saint-Lô, states that the town has considered taking this significant step for a long time, adding that the energy crisis in 2022 has accelerated the process. “Cities with a district heating network have not seen their heating bills soar” explains Jérôme Virlouvet.
The tender documents state that the share of renewable and recovered energy must be at least 80%. Furthermore, a gas boiler will also be integrated as back-up.
Read more in article from Ouest France
Read more in article from France Marches
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