The French favor urban heating networks

Presented during the “Live Chaud” event, the results confirm citizens’ interest in this sustainable heating solution, whose democratization and large-scale deployment will ensure our energy transition. It is an encouragement to continue on this path for ENGIE Solutions, leader in heating networks in France.

Engage citizens massively in the decarbonization of heat

Heat represents almost half of the energy consumed in France and three quarters of that consumed by French homes is used for heating and the production of hot water[1]. But today, two thirds of this heat still comes from fossil fuels. Of the 164 heating networks operated by ENGIE Solutions, almost 60% of their power supply is renewable and local and it is common to reach rates of 75% to 100%.

To go further, it is necessary to allow users to have an informed understanding of this virtuous heating method and to involve them in the transition to less carbon-intensive and local heating.

This first citizen consultation on heating networks therefore aimed to discover their functioning and their advantages but also to identify the needs and reservations of users on this subject.

It presented 3 sections devoted respectively to the very definition of RCU, to the renewable energies that can power them and to the means of making them known to the public. The consultation attracted no less than 75.000 visitors and nearly 2.000 active participants.

Discover all the results of the consultation

Urban heat network: a priority issue for more than 80%

The quantitative results of this consultation clearly highlight a very positive perception of district heating installations and their method of energy supply:

• More than 8 out of 10 citizens consider green energy and RCU to be priority issues, and their benefits to be sufficient.
• When also asked about the relevance of the action levers for developing RCU, an overwhelming majority responded positively (81%).
• There is a notable attraction to RCU despite the persistent complexity of understanding the subject.
• Citizens in fact make the link between this virtuous solution, environmental protection and the need to limit our energy consumption.
• Among the Renewable and Recovery Energies (Re&R) associated with networks, geothermal energy garners a broad consensus due to its vast potential.

Raise awareness among stakeholders to increase RCU

The qualitative analysis of the results based on hundreds of comments is rich in lessons, as the participants were able to express their fears and the obstacles they identify to the development of heat networks:

• Above all, citizens are asking for education to better understand how networks work.
• Concept which is complemented by a clearly expressed request for reliable information on RCU, and more particularly on geothermal energy and waste heat recovery. These energies still remain partly unknown to the general public. However, they are already realities experienced in many territories.
• Consistent, they also favor an acceleration of energy renovation concomitant with the development of heating networks.
• Recurring questions arise regarding the financial cost of these installations, the buildings that can be connected to them and the necessary work that has been observed.
• Citizens also underline the key role of local authorities in the creation and extension of RCUs, that of the State in the adaptation of incentive schemes, without forgetting that of co-ownership trustees. All these actors are seen as essential levers for the development of networks and seem well identified by citizens.

For Yann Rolland, Deputy Managing Director of ENGIE Solutions France: “This citizen consultation confirms the credit given by citizens to urban heating networks. More than ever, we need to listen to the end users of today and tomorrow, to adjust our strategic roadmap based on their feedback. It is by calling on collective intelligence and adapting our solutions that we will be able to meet the climate challenge together. »