France and Denmark: two models for developing and greening district heating networks
Solution WorkshopRenewable energies and networks
2026-06-24 | 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Chablis Room
Information
A workshop offered by the Danish Energy Agency & Ademe
Animation:
- Noémi Schneider, Danish Energy Agency
- Nathan CALLEAU, ADEME
- Community (subject to change)
In France as in Denmark, district heating networks play a central role in the energy transition . Their decarbonization has accelerated significantly in recent decades: approximately 65% of the heat distributed in France by district heating networks now comes from renewable sources, and nearly 80% in Denmark.
However, while Denmark has made district heating its dominant heating solution, with nearly 70% of homes connected, France lags behind, with a market share of around 6%. These discrepancies reflect structural, technological, and strategic differences.
To better understand these dynamics and accelerate the development of district heating networks in France, as well as to learn from best practices implemented in both countries , the Danish Energy Agency and ADEME, in partnership with the DGEC, have launched a technical collaboration. This workshop aims to share the initial findings and open a dialogue with all stakeholders in the sector.
The interventions will focus on experiences of diversifying the energy mix of heat networks in the two countries: in Denmark, the transition from a coal-dependent system to a multi-renewable energy model, based mainly on biomass, recovered energy and, increasingly, electricity; in France, studies carried out by ADEME on local and sustainable biomass (forestry and agriculture).
