Besançon’s decarbonisation strategy: Expanding a proven local heating network
By leveraging its historic district heating system and prioritising renewable energy, Besançon is delivering affordable, sustainable heat while combating energy poverty.
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In Eastern France, Besançon is renowned for its green spaces and high quality of life. Now, the city is building on a district heating network established in the 1960s. This network, powered largely by renewable sources and waste heat recovery, is at the core of Besançon’s ambitious decarbonisation strategy, combining ecological responsibility with economic resilience and social inclusion.
Decarbonising the city’s district heating
Besançon’s district heating network, initially created to serve a growing social housing neighbourhood, has long been a vital source of stable, affordable energy. Fueled by the city’s waste incinerator and supplemented with biomass boilers, the system now supplies more than 80% renewable heat at prices 30% below the market average. This model has proven reliable and resilient, even during energy crises, supporting vulnerable households.
As part of its decarbonisation efforts, Besançon is expanding its heating network westward over an area equal to half the city, with a goal of reaching 85% renewable energy. This extension will feature technological innovations such as recovering heat from flue gases to maximise efficiency and lowering distribution temperatures to reduce losses, increasing distribution efficiency to 86%. These improvements will also enable nearly 100% efficiency of the burned biomass and reduce carbon emissions by 35,000 tonnes annually and connect major buildings, including hospitals and local industries, to more sustainable sources.
Empowering citizens and tackling energy poverty
Beyond technical advancements, Besançon priorities social equity. The district heating network offers significantly lower prices for residents in vulnerable areas, such as Planoise, where energy poverty affects a third of households. The city complements the network with outreach programmes to educate residents on energy savings and improve energy efficiency at home. Moreover, the governance model, combining public investment in infrastructure with delegated operation, ensures strategic control and long-term vision.
Let’s hear from Lorine Gagliolo, Vice-President of Greater Besançon in charge of the ecological transition, about the city’s heating strategy.
