INTREPIDH: Exploring a new type of collaboration between the process industry and district heating

The European process industry is under intense pressure to decarbonise. Around 50% of its total energy demand goes into process heat, most of it still supplied by fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. At the same time, Europe’s heating sector is transforming, with countries expanding and modernising district heating (DH) to become the backbone of affordable, low-carbon heat supply for urban areas.

INTREPIDH shows that these two transitions belong together. By integrating industrial demand with district heating, both sectors win. The industry secures affordable, carbon-neutral heat, DH utilities expand and balance their networks, and municipalities achieve more efficient and resilient energy systems.

Why industrial process heat-based district heating matters now

District heating is an enabling infrastructure: it connects diverse heat sources, allows for the bidirectional exchange of surplus and process heat, and creates anchor loads that make green production and network expansion more affordable. Hence, district heating is an excellent option for supplying process heat to industrial processes where possible.

Process heat is the energy required to drive industrial operations such as drying, food processing, and cleaning. As mentioned, most of the process heat today is still fossil-based. This is where district heating offers a scalable alternative.

Depending on the process, DH can directly supply heat at [70–120 °C] to the industry. Where higher temperatures [160-200] are required, DH combined with boosting technologies (electric boilers, high-temperature heat pumps, biogas/biomass) forms a cost-effective, flexible pathway. This flexibility makes DH-based process heat more attractive than solutions based solely on electrification, biomass, or biogas.

According to Euroheat & Power, district heating and cooling could supply between 32% and 48% of Europe’s total heat demand by 2050 — and industrial process heat represents a major untapped share of that potential. Process heat based on district heating can cut carbon, lower costs and strengthen local energy security.

Project idea: INTREPIDH project set itself three main objectives

The Interregional Examples of the Process Industry and District Heating (INTREPIDH) project collects, develops, and disseminates knowledge on decarbonizing industrial process heat through district heating. The main goals during this project are the following three:

1. Empowering municipalities to facilitate cooperation between industrial companies and district heating suppliers, improve municipal heat planning, and accelerate investment decisions.
2. Raise awareness among local/regional/national authorities, district heating and industrial companies and organizations, and research institutions about facts, potential, and best practices.
3. Develop a network for further knowledge exchange on innovations and activities in Germany, France, Denmark, and across Europe.

Unlocking benefits for municipalities, utilities and industry

The idea of using process heat based on district heating benefits all actors involved in the green transition, Industry, utilities and local authoritites and is a key to unlock untapped potential in the sector integration.

• Municipalities: Holistic heat planning that includes the local industry accelerates DH investments, improves social acceptance and anchors green jobs.
• District-heating utilities: New industrial customers provide anchor load, improve the use of summer capacity and deliver economies of scale that lower unit prices.
• Industry: Access to stable, potentially lower heat prices; reduced on-site footprint and operational risk; and stronger access to funding for transition projects.

Beyond these individual gains, integration creates several synergies. The support of a circular energy system increases not only the efficient use of resources but also is an important way to showcase smart energy solutions that can attract future investment and also high-skilled labour.

The local supply trough district heating increases the local grid robustness and helps to create energy safety which increases the public approval and acceptance. Shortly put – process heat based on district heating is a WIN-WIN-WIN-situation.