France - A Fast Learner?

摘要

With about 700 district heating (DH) networks all over the country, and fairly good sunshine figures, France is nevertheless a learning country« in the European project Solar District Heating plus (SDH+), aiming at developing solar in district heating. As most French DH grids run on temperatures above 110℃, and solar panels tend to lose efficiency when high temperature is needed, it is quite challenging to make the most of solar production in DH in this country. There is a tendency to decrease flow temperatures in existing DH, especially in order to reduce heat losses, but this is expensive and will need time to be widespread. However, facing the solar challenge, it is fairly easier for new projects: In the south of France -near Toulouse and Montpellier - two new district heating projects including solar plants are currently under construction.