District Heating: A Strategic Lever for the Energy Transition and the Circular Economy
The district heating sector in Italy is undergoing a profound transformation. The need to reduce dependence on gas, accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources, and improve the energy efficiency of urban networks is driving the industry toward new, sustainable models. Particularly in the North-West and in the Piedmont region, cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants offer a development potential of around 30 million cubic meters—but it is crucial to shift heat production toward renewable sources and circular solutions.
Within the framework of the circular economy, district heating plays a strategic role in reducing waste and reusing thermal energy from renewable and recovered sources. According to AIRU, district heating in Italy currently covers only 2.3% of national demand, despite a growth potential of up to 21%.
Today, over 3,300 km of networks are active, with more than 430 subnetworks and a significant increase in plants powered by:
Bioenergy: 757 MWt
Industrial waste heat recovery: 126 MWt
Geothermal energy: 156 MWt
Solar thermal: 3.15 MWt
Heat pumps: 94 MWt
Digital transformation is a key enabler for improving the efficiency and sustainability of the sector. Technologies such as IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and real-time monitoring systems allow for:
Reduction of thermal losses
Optimization of heat supply and demand
Better integration of renewable sources
Enhanced management of energy communities
Engineering’s Neta IT solutions support utilities in managing processes efficiently and enabling the practical implementation of circular economy principles.
Supports the economic and environmental sustainability of district heating through:
Digital invoicing and paperless operations
Consumption optimization
Reduction of operational waste
Active involvement of end users
Discover Neta BTLR – Application Module
Useful for circular resource management in the environmental and waste sectors:
Green procurement and sustainable supply management
Circular warehouse and resource reuse
ESG reporting and digital accounting
Asset management with extended lifecycle
Discover NetaSIAL – Application Module
The actions taken in the district heating sector align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy
SDG 9 – Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
SDG 13 – Climate action
Digitalization, advanced monitoring, and the integration of renewable energy sources are the keys to a modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable district heating system aligned with circular economy principles. Engineering’s Neta solutions provide tangible support for utilities ready to face this transition with innovative and scalable tools.