Summary

The global market for heating and cooling networks is growing, with European countries such as Russia and China leading the way in network development. Almost 6,000 district heating networks existed in Europe, representing 11-12% of energy needs, but France had a lower penetration rate. However, the French market has experienced an upward trajectory, with the use of renewable and recovered energies in heating networks.

The main market players are ENGIE and EDF, who dominate through subsidiaries, as well as smaller, dynamic players such as Coriance and Idex. Energy deliveries from networks are expected to rise between 2012 and 2028, and French households are increasingly interested in renewable energy heating networks. The French government is focusing on improving these networks by 2030 through targeted actions to boost competitiveness and innovation.

Heat and cooling networks in France: a pillar of urban energy transition

In terms of economic impact, networks are price-competitive with other heating solutions and contribute to the sustainable development of cities, particularly in the context of smart city initiatives. Overall, district heating and cooling networks are set to play an important role in achieving green energy targets, with France having set itself the ambitious goal of tripling the amount of energy supplied by district heating and cooling networks by 2010. of energy supplied by networks by 2030 In recent years, demand for district heating and cooling networks has grown palpably, a trend that looks set to accelerate in the future. These systems reflect a move towards sustainable energy solutions, taking advantage of local energy resources that are difficult to harness using traditional methods.

Demand for heat networks, particularly in the residential sector, represents a significant proportion of energy deliveries, with housing accounting for over half and the tertiary sector for almost a third of total distribution. Interestingly, while cooling networks are less widespread, they are experiencing an upward growth trajectory as the need for efficient air-conditioning solutions increases, exacerbated by factors such as global warming, growing urban populations and increasing use of electronic devices.

Two major players dominate this market in France: ENGIE and EDF, which operate through subsidiaries, hold a significant share of the segment. However, there is room for smaller entities such as Coriance and Idex to carve out niches, indicating that the market is not entirely closed to competition. In terms of geographical distribution, heating networks are particularly well developed in the Île-de-France region, but the energy used by cooling networks is in the majority.however, most of the energy used by cooling networks is produced in the same region, indicating a disparity in deployment between other regions.

In addition, the French market is committed to the adoption of renewable and recovered energies, which now account for around 59% of the energy mix used by heating networks, a sharp increase on previous years. In addition, there has been a shift in public opinion towards these networks, with a significant percentage of French residents showing an interest in connecting to these systems once they have been informed of their operation and benefits.

Legislation, such as the Grenelle laws and the law on energy transition for green growth, support this market and aim to increase by a factor of five the amount of heat and cold coming from renewable or recovered sources. Furthermore, economic performance indicators show that thermal density and investment in modernization are key to improving economic competitiveness. Sales in the heating and cooling network installation sector have soared, posting a compound annual growth rate in recent years.

It appears that the long-term stability and cost-competitiveness of these networks are probably key factors in their growing acceptance and implementation, which is strongly supported by the market.this is strongly supported by the French government's commitment to increase penetration from around 5% to an ambitious target of 25% by 2050.

Key players driving the French district heating and cooling market

In the evolving landscape of the French district heating and cooling market, several leading players are making significant inroads. These companies not only contribute to market growth, but also play an essential role in the sustainable transformation of energy distribution systems in urban environments.

  • Engie is at the forefront of this market thanks to its subsidiaries, which play an essential role in the development and operation of heating and cooling networks. Engie's commitment to energy solutions is reflected in strategic business units such as Cofely and Climespace, the latter of which operates one of the world's most extensive cooling networks in Paris.
  • EDF, another major player through its subsidiary Dalkia, manages a considerable number of networks across France. Dalkia is renowned for its innovative solutions such as the "smart grid thermique", which symbolizes the intersection of technology and energy distribution, harnessing real-time data for optimized performance. Companies such as
  • Idex and Coriance represent the dynamic, specialized segment of the market that has succeeded in establishing itself alongside giants such as ENGIE and EDF. These smaller but agile companies have found their place and are contributing to healthy competition within the industry.

The growth and influence of these companies cannot be overestimated, as they continue to shape the French market through their reseau operations, while doing so in an environmentally-friendly way that aligns with broader national goals for sustainability and energy efficiency.

Get all the information you need
to understand this market

Detailed content

Inforamtion

  • Number of pages : 30 pages
  • Format : Digital and PDF versions
  • Last update : 20/04/2021
Update Details

Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

A heat network is a set of one or more power plants (heat) that distribute of heat in a city or housing estate through the use of underground pipes most often installed under roads. Then, some delivery stations deliver heat to buildings connected to the network (individuals, companies or communities).

It is therefore a centralised heat distribution system that makes it possible to exploit all local energy resources. The setting up of heating networks also gives the possibility of using on a large scale local energies that cannot be used by other methods of heating (industrial waste heat or heat from waste incineration, geothermal energy on aquifers, heat from cogeneration plants, etc.).

Less common, the cold networks have a similar operation, but in reverse They collect the heat in the buildings they serve and discharge it to a central cooling plant.

In Europe, northern and eastern countries tend to make greater use of these heating and cooling network systems, with penetration rates often exceeding 50% compared to 5% in France for heating networks For their part, cooling networks only represent a small part of the cooling market, whereas they are particularly developed in countries such as Japan or the Middle East

However, the French market has been growing for the last ten years . The growth in the number of networks and the quantity of energy delivered should be very significant in the coming decades if we believe the objectives set by the government, which sees it as a way to decarbonise the heating and cooling of buildings. In fact, in heating networks, the share of renewable and recovered energy used has increased from about 31% in 2009 to almost 59% in 2019.  

ENGIE and EDF dominates the market through their subsidiaries, but smaller dynamic players are also present on the market - such as Coriance and Idex

List of charts

  • Taux de pénétration des réseaux de chaleur dans quelques pays européens
  • Production et distribution de vapeur et d'air conditionné (marché intérieur et export)
  • Répartition des livraisons de réseaux de chaleur en 2019
  • Répartition des 6 800 emplois directs dans les réseaux de chaleur et de froid
  • Bouquet énergétique des réseaux de chaleur (énergie entrante)
Show more Hide

All our studies are available online in PDF format

Take a look at an example of our research on another market!

Do you have a question about this study?   +44 238 097 0676

Latest news

Veolia employees become the group's largest shareholder - 16/01/2023
  • Veolia employees now hold 6.5% of the company's capital, making them its largest shareholder
Veolia has come to terms with the absorption of the former Suez - 03/03/2023
  • Sales of around 42.9 billion euros, up 50.4% and 14.1% on a pro-forma basis.
  • The Group now employs some 220,000 people
  • France now accounts for only 23% of sales
  • 70% of sales generated by price-indexed contracts
  • Veolia is present in all three major "ecological transformation" markets: decarbonization, resource conservation and regeneration, and pollution control.
  • In the field of electric battery recycling, our objective is to have a 15% market share in Europe by 2030
Veolia benefits from the ecological revolution - 04/03/2023
  • Sales of 42.9 billion euros in 2026 23% of business in France, 40% in Europe (excluding France) and 37% in the rest of the world
  • The main business is in water (17.2 billion euros), the second in waste management and recycling (14.6 billion) and the third in energy (10 billion euros)

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Dalkia
Coriance
Véolia Groupe
Cerema
Barriquand
CPCU (Engie Groupe)
Compagnie de Chauffage
Ademe
Firalp
Idex

Choosing this study means :

Access to more than 35 hours of work

Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.

Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced

Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.

Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.

Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data

Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).

To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)

Guaranteed support after your purchase

A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676

A digital format designed for our users

Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.

Our offers :

the market for heating and cooling networks | France

89 €
  • What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
  • What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
  • What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
  • Data from several dozen databases

Pack 5 études (-15%) France

75.6 € / study
378 € instead of 445 € -15%
  • 5 études au prix de 75,6€HT par étude à choisir parmi nos 800 titres sur le catalogue France pendant 12 mois
  • Conservez -15% sur les études supplémentaires achetées
  • Choisissez le remboursement des crédits non consommés au terme des 12 mois (durée du pack)

Consultez les conditions du pack et de remboursement des crédits non consommés.

Updates

Our customer references

They have consulted our studies Discover the opinions (+500)

Malcolm Vincent
Linkedin logo

Malcolm Vincent

Astoria Finance

Gregoire de Castelnau
Linkedin logo

Gregoire de Castelnau

Stags Participations

Timothé Huignard
Linkedin logo

Timothé Huignard

PWC

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff
Linkedin logo

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff

BCG

Aymeric Granet
Linkedin logo

Aymeric Granet

Publicis Consultant

interviews & case studies All interviews and case studies (45)

La pépite Interview

BFM Business

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff

Boston Consulting Group

Marie Guibart

Kea Partners

Elaine, Durand

Crédit Agricole, Information & Veille

Philippe Dilasser

Initiative & Finance

Anne Baudry

Metro

Amaury Wernert

Kroll (Duff & Phelps)

Smart Leaders Interview

B-Smart

Do you have a question ?
Our team is at your disposal at   +44 238 097 0676