France’s district heating sector is at a crossroads. With over 1,000 networks serving more than 50,000 buildings, the country has made significant progress – 66% of district heating now comes from renewable sources. Yet despite national ambitions to quintuple renewable heat delivery by 2030, district heating covers only 6% of France’s total heat demand.

The bottleneck isn’t technology, it’s governance. French municipalities face a critical challenge: navigating long-term contracts with four dominant private operators while trying to accelerate decarbonisation. Many lack the internal expertise to establish new systems, expand existing ones, or renegotiate contracts with the dominant firms that align with climate goals.

The EMPOWER approach

EMPOWER bridges the gap between planning and implementation—the critical phase where municipalities engage with private actors to develop, operate, or modernise district heating infrastructure. Rather than prescribing templates, the project builds municipal capacity through hands-on learning and strategic dialogue.

Core activities

• Denmark study visit: 2-day immersion with Aalborg Forsyning and Danish District Heating Utilities to see public leadership and technical innovation in action
• Three EMPOWER workshops: May 2026, October 2026, and February 2027
• Momentum coaching: Six online sessions providing tailored support and peer learning throughout the project
• Competence centre study: Feasibility research exploring governance models for a regional support structure inspired by successful German and Danish examples

Focus region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

With 10 million inhabitants and over 250 district heating systems delivering 4,600 GWh annually, the region offers a high-impact proving ground. Current networks rely heavily on waste incineration and biomass (70% renewable), but vast potential remains untapped in solar thermal, industrial waste heat, and geothermal energy.

Partnership

The project brings together complementary expertise: DBDH (Danish Board of District Heating) and AURA-EE (regional energy agency) as project owners, with Aalborg Forsyning providing Danish expertise throughout. Municipal partners Lyon (1.4M inhabitants, 7 systems), Chambéry (60km network, 94.5% renewable target) and Clermont-Ferrand anchor the work alongside additional municipalities, with partners collectively contributing approximately 1,000 hours. AMORCE, France’s leading municipal network (1,000+ members), leads national dissemination supported by CEREMA and ADEME.

Expected impact

For French municipalities

Eight cities will gain practical skills to renegotiate contracts, explore alternative governance models, and integrate diverse renewable sources. Insights will reach hundreds more through AMORCE’s national network.

For DBDH members

At least three municipalities are expected to initiate follow-up discussions with Danish companies, creating tangible market entry points. The project strengthens the existing strategic export alliance with the Danish Embassy in Paris and generates valuable market intelligence for Danish district heating technology and expertise.

For the sector

The competence centre feasibility study may establish lasting regional infrastructure for ongoing municipal support. Project learnings will inform Franco-Danish energy cooperation and provide a replicable model for similar European collaborations.

Strategic significance

EMPOWER recognizes that technical solutions alone don’t drive transformation. Municipalities need confidence, capacity, and coalitions to lead the heat transition. By focusing on the pre-tendering phase where critical decisions shape outcomes for decades, the project delivers leverage. It demonstrates how targeted international collaboration can accelerate systemic change, creating a template for Franco-Danish cooperation that extends beyond this single region.