Connecting to a district heating or cooling network

Used to heat large condominiums or commercial buildings, a district heating and cooling network is a network that distributes centrally-produced energy to several users to heat buildings. The energy sources used by these networks can be renewable and recovered (RE&R), helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a local, integrated way. Networks make it possible to centralize the production of heat or cooling and limit the associated safety risks, as well as reducing environmental impact.

In France, there are more than 500 district heating networks serving around 6% of the country's heat production, or 2 million people (hospitals, housing estates, large condominiums or service sector buildings, etc.) throughout the country (rural and urban networks).

Each network consists of a primary (public) distribution circuit, which transports heat from the production unit to the exchange substations. A secondary distribution network (private: heating and hot water circuits) supplies heat to the buildings.