District heating network to be constructed in Quimper 

A major infrastructure project is set to begin in June 2025 in the Penhars district of Quimper, located in the Finistère department. Quimper Bretagne Occidentale (QBO) will initiate the construction of a district heating network powered primarily by a biomass boiler, marking a significant step in the region’s long-standing energy transition plans. The system is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2026. 

The new heating network will extend over 4.4 kilometres and will include a central heating plant equipped with a wood-fired boiler and two auxiliary gas boilers. The facility will be built near the Lycée de Cornouaille. In addition to the plant, the project will involve the installation of 3.5 kilometres of underground hot water pipelines, technical exchange stations at the base of connected buildings, and internal piping within those buildings. 

Once completed, the network will supply heat to a range of public and residential buildings, including the Lycée de Cornouaille, Lycée Chaptal, Kerlan Vihan swimming pool, the local sports hall, Collège Max-Jacob, the public services centre, Kerjestin primary school, the Cascade leisure centre, and more than 600 residential units managed by OPAC. The biomass boiler will consume approximately 2,200 tonnes of wood annually, sourced from three suppliers located within a 25-kilometre radius. This will require around three lorry deliveries per week. Furthermore, the boiler will be shut down during the summer months. 

According to Thomas Férec, Vice-President of QBO responsible for energy transition, the initiative is part of the agglomeration’s ecological strategy. He emphasised that the system offers a reliable alternative to fossil fuels, contributes to energy sovereignty, and supports the use of locally available wood resources. 

The construction phase is expected to cause temporary disruptions in the area. Significant trenching will be required, leading to the closure of certain streets. However, pedestrian access and entry to homes and businesses within the construction zone will be maintained. Public transport will also be affected, with bus stops at Rue Kerjestin, Bois de Kerjestin, and Kerjestin being temporarily out of service from 2 June to 29 July 2025. Passengers will be redirected to stops at Rond-point de Kermoysan and Boulevard de France. 

The project has been awarded to a consortium comprising Engie Solutions, René Joncour for civil engineering, Brûlé Architectes, and Exoceth, an engineering consultancy. The total investment amounts to 9.7 million EUR, with QBO contributing 3.4 million EUR. 

Read more in article from Actu France 

Saint-Nazaire confirms public service delegation for low-carbon heating network with Dalkia 

On 19 June 2025, Saint-Nazaire Agglomération formalised its partnership with Dalkia for the construction and operation of a new low-carbon district heating network. The agreement, signed by David Samzun, President of Saint-Nazaire Agglo and Mayor of Saint-Nazaire, and Pierre de Montlivault, Regional Director of Dalkia for the Centre-West, marks the official launch of a major energy infrastructure project for the region. 

The network will be powered by more than 90 percent renewable and recovered energy sources. To achieve this, Dalkia will harness thermal energy from treated wastewater at the Ecossiernes wastewater treatment plant in Saint-Nazaire, using a high-performance heat pump. In addition, a biomass heating plant will be constructed in Montoir-de-Bretagne by 2027. This facility will use wood residues such as forest chips, hedgerow trimmings, and packaging wood, all sourced from local supply chains. 

Once completed, the network will span 37 kilometres and is expected to deliver 100 GWh of heat annually by 2030. This output will meet the heating and hot water needs of the equivalent of 16,400 housing units, including 4,000 social housing units, as well as various public institutions and industrial facilities. 

The project is a key component of the agglomeration’s Territorial Climate Air Energy Plan, which aims to increase the share of renewable heat to 31 percent by 2030, up from the current level of 7 percent. Dalkia’s involvement is positioned as a strategic contribution to this transition. 

Read more in Press Release from Dalkia 

Neuilly-Plaisance signs contract to modernise municipal heating systems

The municipality of Neuilly-Plaisance in Seine-Saint-Denis has entered into a seven-year and seven-month Energy Performance Contract with Engie Solutions, formalised during the Mayors of Île-de-France trade fair. The agreement outlines a comprehensive plan to modernise heating systems across municipal buildings, aiming to reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance. 

Under the contract, 18 oil-fired boiler systems will be decommissioned and replaced with more efficient technologies. Two mini district heating networks will be established, one of which will serve a school complex. In addition, eight hybrid systems will be installed, comprising seven air-to-water heat pumps and one biomass boiler. The project also includes the deployment of 14 gas condensing boilers and the implementation of an energy supervision system with automated restart optimisers. This system is designed to manage heating circuits and regulate both temperature and hot water flow in an adaptive and automated manner. 

The works will be carried out across 20 sites, covering a total surface area of approximately 25,000 square metres. The initiative is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 814 tonnes over the duration of the contract, representing a 30 percent reduction in the carbon footprint of the affected buildings. 

The total investment for the project amounts to 9.3 million EUR, of which 5.7 million EUR will be allocated specifically to the construction and installation works. The contract is positioned as a key milestone in the municipality’s ecological transition strategy, aiming to modernise infrastructure while ensuring long-term control over public energy expenditure. 

Read more in article from L’Écho Île-de-France  

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