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Urban energy networks

Connected Systems for a Low-Carbon Future

District Heating and Cooling Solutions

A district heating and cooling network is a network that connects businesses, institutions or individual homes within a shared energy system. More efficient than a series of individual pieces of equipment, it heats or cools buildings through underground pipes connected to a single thermal power station. This system is particularly advantageous when powered by renewable or local energy sources such as biomass, geothermal energy or waste heat from industrial processes, for example. Backed by the Group's technical knowledge, Equans Services is positioned as a benchmark in the installation and management of these complex infrastructures.

Our goal? To support university campuses, industrial parks, eco-neighborhoods, factories or healthcare players in their transition to decarbonized energy.

How Does a District Energy Network Work?

To supply various buildings with hot, chilled or tempered water, district energy networks rely on a centralized, interconnected system that enables energy to be distributed efficiently. In the case of a heating network, for example, hot water is produced in a boiler house (known as a central heating plant). 
This hot water is then routed through a network of pipes (known as the "primary network") to substations located close to the buildings. Via these substations, the heat is then communicated to the heating and domestic hot water circuits of each building ("secondary networks").

Once the heat has been transmitted, the water in the network returns to the thermal power plant to be heated once again. For end users, this is just as comfortable as a traditional boiler. The special feature lies in the possibility of creating heat exchanges between connected buildings and using renewable or local energy sources to power the system.

Infographics of a DHC
district heating and cooling plant

Modernizing Your Equipment

Thanks to the convergence of the expertise of the Group's entities, Equans Services is able to meet any demand for district energy systems (District Heating and Cooling systems).

Whether you want to renovate your district energy system, improve your performance, meet regulatory requirements or upgrade your facilities, we intervene at every stage of your project with maximum contractual flexibility.

Advantages of a District Heating Network

    MORE EFFICIENT THERMAL POWER GENERATION

    Thanks to the installation of technologically advanced and properly maintained equipment, the conversion of primary energy to thermal energy is more efficient.

    CLEANER THERMAL POWER GENERATION

    By allowing you to choose the primary energy source used, depending on time and place, this system gives preference to renewable or local energy.

    MAINTAINING LOWER-COST ASSETS

    By eliminating the need for on-site equipment, such as boilers and chillers, district energy systems offer the advantage of anticipating and reducing long-term operating costs.

    BETTER RELIABILITY

    With thermal power generation equipment brought together in a single location and operated by a competent entity, redundancy - and therefore the supply of thermal power - is guaranteed at all times.

    HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN CONSUMERS

    Thanks to the interconnection of heating and cooling circuits, district heating networks make it possible to use surplus heat produced by one building to meet the energy needs of another.

    PEAK LOAD MANAGEMENT

    By balancing energy demand between several users, district heating networks offer better management of peak consumption and reduce the risk of network overload.

    district heating and cooling installation

    Equans Services Takes Care of Your Entire Project:

    Feasibility study

    Design

    Construction

    Commissioning

    Operation and maintenance

    Maintaining Your Assets

    When it comes to operation and maintenance, Equans Services takes care of keeping your network running smoothly, whatever its size. From operation and energy monitoring to reactive, preventive or predictive maintenance of your assets, we ensure systematic and organized maintenance of your facilities. And we do this in compliance with the standards and regulations specific to each geographical area.

    24/7 Supervision

    Thanks to our Remote Operations Center, Equans Services supervises your energy network system round-the-clock.

    The objective? Guarantee a continuous supply of hot and cold water. In the event of a breakdown, our mobile teams are capable of deploying 24/7 throughout North America. All our technicians are trained and certified to work on your installations. In fact, to ensure the ongoing training of its staff, Equans Services has its own academy (Equans Academy). Whatever the generation of their system, our customers can therefore be sure that our teams are looking after the performance and longevity of their equipment.

    Decarbonization

    Beyond the operation and maintenance of your district heating or cooling network, Equans Services is also the ideal partner to make your facilities green and meet the decarbonization challenges of the federal government, your city or your province. By combining your urban network with renewable or local energy sources, such as geothermal or biomass, we preserve natural resources and contribute to your energy transition. 

    Did You Know?

    Waste Heat Recovery (VRT)

    Using specific tools such as RTUs (Remote Terminal Units), Equans Services is also able to integrate multiple energy sources into your urban network. This makes it possible to take advantage of the opportunities offered by waste heat, as part of an interconnected network for example.

    Whether it's waste heat from industrial processes, data centers or air-conditioning systems, thermal waste is indeed a valuable resource just waiting to be exploited. Thanks to our automated control systems - with or without storage equipment, our customers to benefit from this local energy, improving the overall energy efficiency of facilities.

    The valorization of thermal waste is eligible for government financial assistance in Québec.

    Eco-district Projects

    To meet the challenges of our times, eco-neighborhood projects are on the rise in North America. In collaboration with our partners, we support you in the deployment of your new heating network with turnkey, tailor-made solutions, such as Public-Private Partnership. From engineering to installation, financing and energy supply, our integrated approach guarantees efficient management of your project. Flexibility, reliability, cost control... Our ambition is clear: to offer reliable, clean energy to your users, meeting the highest standards of quality and ecology.

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