Grand Besancon Métropole and Engie Solutions sign contract for expansion of heating network 

On Tuesday, 19 November 2024, Anne Vignot, President of Grand Besançon Métropole, and Catherine MacGregor, CEO of Engie, signed a public service concession contract to extend the Besançon West heating network. The 12-year contract will in addition to the extension bring about significant improvements to the network. 

The project will expand the current network from 24 km to 74 km, eventually connecting nearly 500 buildings. Key technical improvements include the recovery of energy from current biomass boiler fumes and the addition of a new biomass boiler by 2030. These upgrades will enable the network to supply 233 GWh of heat annually, sufficient for the heating and hot water needs of 23,000 homes. 

Furthermore, Ma Commune states that the updated network will incorporate several power reserves to allow for future connections to new infrastructures or buildings. This scalability ensures the system can adapt to the community’s growing needs. 

The project involves an investment of 66 million euros from Grand Besançon Métropole and 56 million euros from Engie Solutions. The French Agency ADEME will also support the initiative through its Heat Fund. 

According to Ma Commune, the project has put an emphasis on ensuring that the network will promote a good air quality in the region. The project has been indicated to employ several technologies at the Planoise heating plant to live up to this commitment: i) reducing primary energy consumption, with an expected saving of more than 155,000 tonnes of wood over the contract period, ii) recovering waste energy from biomass boilers, and iii) installing filtration systems. 

Read more in article from Ma Commune 

Limoges plans major expansion of urban heat networks 

Limoges Métropole is advancing its renewable energy strategy with the development of two significant heat networks, announced in November 2024, and set to be operational by 2028. This €30 million project, fully funded by Engie Solutions under a 30-year public service delegation, will expand sustainable heating access to thousands of additional households and businesses across the city. 

The first initiative, named Limoges Centre Énergies Services, focuses on upgrading and significantly extending the existing network that today serves the Hôtel de Ville. This system will grow from 740 meters to 23 kilometers, reaching 135 delivery points and heating over 9,400 homes. Currently powered by a mix of biogas and natural gas, it will transition by 2026 to rely primarily on waste energy recovered from the city’s incineration processes. By 2029, the network is expected to achieve 97% renewable energy utilisation, supported by a newly constructed 25 MW gas backup boiler for reliability. 

The second initiative is in southern Limoges; a brand-new network dubbed Limoges Sud Énergies Services will be developed to serve areas such as Sablard, the Limoges Sud business park, and several other neighborhoods. This network will utilize waste heat recovered from the city’s water treatment plant, harnessed through heat pumps, and will also incorporate an 8.5 MW biomass boiler powered by locally sourced materials. By 2027, the system is projected to achieve 98% renewable energy utilisation.  

Read more in article from Limoges Métropole 

Annecy makes enhancements to their urban heating networks

The City of Annecy is moving forward with plans to modernize and expand its urban heating networks as part of its ecological transition strategy. On September 30, 2024, the municipal council approved a new concession agreement with Dalkia, setting the stage for upgrades to the urban heating infrastructure. The official statement from the city council underlines three main projects. 

The first project will focus on the Seynod, Fier & Thiou heating network. By January 2028, this network’s capacity is planned to grow from 4,200 to 10,500 housing units. This expansion is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits. The network will rely largely on energy recovered from Sinergie, the waste treatment facility operated by SILA. 

The second project includes an extension of the Novel heating network, which is set to increase its coverage from 4,200 to 6,400 housing units by October 2026. This project builds on the success of the existing infrastructure, ensuring that more households benefit from efficient, low-carbon heating systems. 

The third initiative is the creation of a new heating network in Annecy-le-Vieux. Currently in the feasibility study phase, this project has the potential to serve approximately 600 housing units. If implemented, it would provide an opportunity to expand access to sustainable energy in this part of the city. 

Read more in article from Annecy Municipality 

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