France: Rennes invests EUR156mn in its district heating network

Rennes Métropole and ENGIE Solutions are launching a EUR156mn project to extend a 78-kilometre district heating network powered entirely by renewable and recovered energy sources.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Rennes Métropole has signed a thirteen-year concession agreement with ENGIE Solutions to develop and operate an urban district heating network in the southern part of the city, powered exclusively by renewable and recovered energy sources. The project will extend the existing network to 78 kilometres, with 32 kilometres to be newly built. The total investment amounts to EUR156mn ($167mn), with a planned capacity equivalent to 47,000 connected households.

A dedicated project company

The project is structured under a single-operation semi-public company (SEMOP), governed jointly by ENGIE Solutions (46%), Rennes Métropole (34%), and Banque des Territoires (15%). For the first time in France, 5% of the company’s capital will be opened to citizen participation through the “Chaleur Renouvelable Citoyenne Rennes Sud” initiative, which brings together residents and subscribers. Two public information meetings have already been held, and participatory workshops are planned.

Five-year expansion plan

Work will begin in Rennes and Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande with the installation of three kilometres of new pipelines and the modernisation of two kilometres in the Bréquigny district. The network will then be extended to Sud Gare, Francisco-Ferrer, Landry, Gaité Sud, and the South-East eco-pole up to Chantepie. Existing infrastructure in Blosne, Poterie, and Bréquigny will also be upgraded and expanded.

Biomass heating plants and hydrostorage

Two new biomass heating plants will be built by 2028: a 23-megawatt facility in Blosne, including a 3,000 m³ hydrostorage tank, and a 21-megawatt plant in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande. These will complement existing installations, ensuring supply during peak demand and maintaining independence from fossil fuel markets.

Digital modernisation and support

The network will include 547 connected substations, managed using digital tools to optimise energy performance. ENGIE Solutions will also offer energy assessments and a EUR500,000 ($536,000) solidarity fund over five years to support building adaptations for new connections.

Local sourcing and circular economy

Wood supply will be sourced locally, including hedgerow wood, end-of-life timber, and forestry chips. Agricultural partnerships will be developed to structure this supply chain. The project also plans to reuse 15 tonnes of materials from construction work, in collaboration with the Bâti Récup association, and to promote recycling of technical equipment among new customers.

Frank Lacroix, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE in charge of Local Energy Infrastructures, stated that “this project marks a major step forward in the decarbonisation of Rennes Métropole.” According to projections, the initiative will prevent 670,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the duration of the contract.

Lesaffre and ENGIE Solutions have inaugurated a waste heat recovery unit in Marcq-en-Barœul, covering 70% of the site's thermal needs through two industrial heat pumps.
Biochar projects are drawing investor interest in India, but signing regulated offtake contracts has become essential to ensure market compliance and financial stability in the carbon sector.
EDF power solutions and Refocosta have inaugurated Colombia’s largest wood biomass power plant in Villanueva, with 30 MW of capacity and an annual output of 200 GWh injected into the national grid.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners invests in Nivalan Biokaasu, Finland’s largest bioLNG plant, with construction set to begin in late 2025 and operations scheduled for 2027.
The Netherlands' lower house voted to adopt RED III, including technical amendments, paving the way for timely transposition by January 1, 2026, in line with EU commitments.
Technip Energies has secured two engineering contracts from Repsol for an innovative waste-to-methanol facility in Tarragona, Spain, marking a strategic milestone in its partnership with Enerkem.
Energy producer CVE Biogaz launches a facility in Tarn capable of processing 21,500 tonnes of biowaste per year to produce biomethane injected into the local gas network.
Australia refocuses its national biomass plan on agriculture and forestry, excluding green hydrogen and urban waste from eligible feedstocks.
A bipartisan group of 47 lawmakers is calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency to maintain high biodiesel quotas to support local agriculture affected by falling exports to China.
Subsidised bio-LNG is gaining traction in European maritime transport, supported by strong demand and a narrowing price gap with unsubsidised volumes.
Renova and its partners have launched commercial operations at the Karatsu biomass power plant, converted to the FIP scheme to secure a long-term power purchase agreement.
The commercial court of Évry has initiated judicial reorganisation proceedings for Global Bioenergies, with no buyout offer submitted to date, leaving open the possibility of liquidation.
Irving Pulp & Paper secures a $660mn loan to modernise its Saint John pulp mill, with new facilities capable of generating up to 145 MW of exportable electricity.
Canadian supplier Greenlane recorded $7.9mn in third-quarter orders through its subsidiary Airdep, confirming growing demand for its biogas desulfurization systems in Europe and the Americas.
Spanish group Qualitas Energy inaugurated the Three Maids facility near Winchester, an anaerobic digestion plant able to produce 120 GWh of biomethane annually from agricultural waste.
The federal government is granting $370mn to Canadian canola producers affected by a 75.8% tariff imposed by China, and is introducing fiscal and regulatory measures to strengthen the domestic biofuel industry.
Netherlands-based BTG Bioliquids and Canada’s NanosTech join forces to develop a modular solution for advanced biofuel production, with a project underway in Europe and Canada.
Teréga and GRDF have commissioned a backfeed station in Lot-et-Garonne, showcasing their cooperation to adapt gas networks to the rise of locally produced biomethane in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
An Indonesian ministerial delegation visited China to explore waste-to-energy solutions, as the country moves forward with a $200mn project in Makassar.
Anaergia’s Italian subsidiary has been selected by Nortegas Renovables to build a biomethane facility in Andalusia using agricultural residues.