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Installation de flexibilité électrique, chaudière électrique et stockage thermique

REFErences

Electrical flexibility of the Narbonne district heating network

1 MW

Installed electrical capacity

400 MWh/year

Annual electricity supplied

1000m³

Hot water storage volume

8 tons/year

CO₂ emissions avoided per year

Summary

Narboflex is the first facility in France to combine an electric boiler, thermal storage and participation in the electricity grid’s balancing mechanisms within a district heating network. Deployed on the Narbonne district heating network to complement the Narbosol solar thermal plant, it enables the use of low-carbon electricity available on the grid, reduces reliance on gas and actively contributes to the stability of the French electricity system via the secondary reserve market (aFRR).

Commissioning
February 2026
Installation de flexibilité électrique, chaudière électrique et stockage thermique
Installation de flexibilité électrique, chaudière électrique et stockage thermique sur réseau de chaleur urbain

The City of Narbonne is proud to host this French first, which clearly demonstrates our ambition in the field of energy transition. With Narboflex, we are transforming our district heating network into an innovative tool that supports decarbonisation, energy independence and residents’ purchasing power.

Bertrand Malquier
Mayor of Narbonne and President of Greater Narbonne

Presentation of the heat consumer client

  • Heating network of the city of Narbonne, the management of which has been entrusted to the Société Narbonnaise de Chauffage (subsidiary of Dalkia) as part of a public service delegation
  • Network supplying more than 900 homes, 7 primary schools, one secondary school and several public buildings in the city of Narbonne

Principle of technology integration

  • Integration of an electric boiler into the existing thermal storage system at the Narbosol solar thermal plant
  • Real-time control based on electricity prices, the electricity grid’s balancing requirements and the thermal storage’s charge status
  • Fossil fuel displaced: Gas

Key innovation

  • First participation by a district heating network in the secondary reserve market (aFRR) in France
  • Utilisation of low-carbon electricity during periods of high generation to produce and store heat
  • First operational reference for a standardised electricity flexibility service deployable at facilities ranging from 1 to 20 MW

They are talking about it

A project funded by

logo ADEME

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