Narboflex, France’s first solution for electrical flexibility in district heating networks

A French first in support of the energy transition

Deployed on the City of Narbonne’s district heating network, Narboflex involves integrating an electric boiler into the existing thermal storage system at the Narbosol solar thermal plant, introducing a new dimension to district heating networks: the provision of electrical flexibility services.

The installation aims to capture low-carbon electricity when its price is at its lowest, during periods of high solar or wind power generation, to produce heat, store it, and then feed it back into the network. The system is controlled in real time according to electricity prices and the balancing requirements of the electricity grid.

At the same time, the facility is made available to RTE (France’s Transmissions System Operator) to participate in secondary reserve mechanisms, thereby contributing to the flexibility and balancing of the electricity grid.

For the city’s district heating network, the benefits are tangible: reduced reliance on gas, diversification of the energy mix, cost optimisation and greater resilience in the face of energy market volatility.

The City of Narbonne is proud to host this French first, which tangibly illustrates our ambition in terms of the energy transition. With Narboflex, we are turning our district heating network into an innovative tool serving decarbonation, energy sovereignty and residents’ purchasing power.
Bertrand Malquier, Mayor of Narbonne and President of Greater Narbonne 

A standardised solution for district heating networks and industrial sites

Narboflex is the first operational example of a standardised, turnkey solution developed by Newheat, incorporating preliminary studies, an electric boiler, thermal storage, energy management and a financing option provided by Newheat.

Designed for district heating networks and industrial sites with high heat consumption, this solution can be deployed from 1 to 20 MW, with simplified integration into existing infrastructure and limited land requirements.

With Narboflex, we are demonstrating that a district heating network can become a flexibility asset and contribute technically and economically to France’s energy balance. We are now moving from a phase of innovation to a concrete, replicable and immediately deployable industrial solution.
Ignace de Prest, Chairman of Newheat