Expansion of the district heating network in Haiyang: towards more comfort and energy efficiency

The Haiyang district, located in China, is now a pioneer in sustainable development thanks to its ambitious urban heating network expansion project. Since 2020, this innovative energy infrastructure has revolutionized the thermal comfort of residents while significantly improving energy efficiency. Using nuclear power to supply a district heating system goes far beyond simply providing heat: it is also a strategy to drastically reduce polluting emissions, facilitate sustainable urban planning, and modernize the energy grid. By 2025, as other Chinese and European cities draw inspiration from this model, it is essential to understand the mechanisms, benefits, and concrete impacts of this major transformation.

The district heating network in Haiyang: principles and technical innovations

The urban heating network, or district heating, is an increasingly preferred solution for distributing heat across a vast urban area. In Haiyang, this network relies on advanced technology that uses nuclear energy to reliably and sustainably heat surrounding buildings.

The Haiyang nuclear power plant, equipped with two AP1000 nuclear reactors, uses a steam extraction heating technology. This method allows for the recovery of a significant amount of residual heat from the electricity production process to heat the water circulating in the network. A key innovation deployed here is the so-called “dual-unit series large temperature difference” technology, which involves connecting two units in series to increase thermal capacity while ensuring performance flexibility.

Thanks to this approach, district heating adapts to the actual needs of residents, ensuring optimal thermal comfort and avoiding energy waste. At the same time, the robustness of the energy infrastructure is strengthened, ensuring reliability and safety for the system. This innovation has allowed Haiyang to become the first city to offer commercial urban heating fully based on nuclear energy, already serving more than 700,000 square meters of housing and urban services.

• Steam extraction heating technology: recovery of heat from electricity production
• Series connection of two units: optimization of thermal capacity and adaptability
• District heating: efficient and reliable distribution at the urban scale
• Use of nuclear energy: stable and low carbon-emission source
• Advanced energy infrastructure: increased reliability and sustainability

As part of this adaptation to the urban fabric, the expansion of the urban heating network also promotes sustainable urban planning by intelligently integrating the energy needs of new neighborhoods and buildings. This smart network reassures residents about the quality and regularity of heat supply, fundamental elements for daily life.

Characteristic	Description	Advantage
Dual-unit series technology	Two interconnected reactors to sequentially heat water	Increased thermal capacity and flexible regulation
Steam extraction heating	Use of steam from the nuclear plant for heating	High energy efficiency and reduced losses
Hot water circulation	Controlled distribution of heat throughout the urban network	Uniform thermal comfort for all users
Ecological reduction	Progressive decrease in dependence on coal and fossil fuels	Less polluting emissions and better air quality

To better understand the fundamentals of how a district heating network operates, it is useful to consult specialized resources like the comprehensive guide available on Idex – urban heating network 2025.

Environmental impact and emission reduction through Haiyang’s urban heating network

The urban heating network powered by the Haiyang nuclear power plant is distinguished by its very ambitious environmental goals, essential in the current context of combating climate change. By replacing individual systems based on fossil fuels, this collective system allows for a marked reduction in atmospheric pollutant emissions.

Reported data indicate that this project annually eliminates:

• 120,000 tonnes of coal consumed less
• 360,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided
• 2,066 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NOx) less
• 2,173 tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) reduced
• 1,258 tonnes of soot eliminated

This remarkable result contributes to improving air quality locally while actively participating in national and international commitments to reduce emissions. It perfectly illustrates how an investment in a virtuous urban heating network fits into a sustainable ecological approach.

This transition to renewable, even decarbonized, energy is a major asset in the fight to preserve the planet. The success of the Warm Core No. 1 project demonstrates that large-scale energy infrastructures can combine technical performance and environmental respect, with a direct impact on the well-being of residents.

Pollutant	Estimated annual reduction (tonnes)
Coal consumed	120,000
CO2	360,000
Nitrogen oxides (NOx)	2,066
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)	2,173
Soot	1,258

To delve deeper into the benefits of urban heating networks from an ecological and energy perspective, it is interesting to explore the analyses provided on Territoires en Transitions and also ENGIE Solutions.

Development and expansion of the network in the district: impact on sustainable urban planning

The ongoing expansion of the urban heating network in Haiyang is inseparable from a thoughtful strategy of sustainable urban planning. By 2025, this deployment now extends to the neighboring city of Rongcheng, making this technology a true regional reference.

The integration of this energy infrastructure into urban development is not limited to providing efficient thermal comfort. It also promotes better resource management, reduces the spaces needed for individual energy installations, and simplifies access to reliable energy for all neighborhoods.

Here are some key benefits brought about by this expansion:

• Improvement in quality of life: stable and uniform heating in all accommodations
• Optimization of resources: collective and better-controlled energy consumption
• Mastered densification: reduced land footprint through sharing
• Facilitation of renovations: easy integration into urban modernization projects
• Reduction of nuisances: decreased smoke and odors from individual heating sources

Given these advances, the urban heating network becomes a fundamental pillar for the growth of sustainable urban planning that meets economic, social, and ecological needs. Its role extends far beyond the technical framework to fit into a holistic vision of the city of tomorrow.

Advantage	Description	Sustainable consequence
Improved thermal comfort	Uniform and regulated heating	Fewer repair requests and satisfaction of residents
Collective consumption	More efficient energy management	Reduction of energy costs for users
Mastered urban densification	Fewer installations and visual impacts	Respect for the environment and optimization of spaces
Reduction of local pollution	Fewer individual coal or gas heating sources	Better public health

Solutions to improve the performance of these infrastructures are also the subject of numerous debates and research. It is recommended to consult the studies available on Scisimple – optimization of urban heating networks to explore these issues further.

The economic and social impacts of the expansion of district heating in Haiyang

The extension of the urban heating network in the district is not limited to environmental or technical interests. It also generates significant positive spillovers on economic and social levels, consolidating its acceptability among residents and local actors.

From an economic perspective, the shared infrastructure translates into lower heating costs for users, particularly thanks to better-controlled energy consumption. This also reduces individual investments in often costly and energy-consuming heating equipment.

On the social side, providing regular thermal comfort contributes to overall well-being, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly. The effectively managed collective network ensures a constant availability of heat, crucial for facing harsh winters. This reliability reduces emergency interventions related to household equipment failures.

• Reduction in energy costs: savings achieved through collective efficiency
• Better energy management: optimization of loads and actual needs
• Increased comfort: stable and reliable heat
• Decrease in breakdowns: fewer urgent repair requests
• Creation of local jobs: maintenance, operation, and development of the network

Aspect	Impact	Consequence
Economic	Decrease in costs	More purchasing power for households
Social	Improvement in comfort	Better quality of life and health
Employment	Create local positions	Sustainable development of the community

For those who wish to understand the economic and social dynamics of this type of district heating, the site Prime Coup de Pouce Chauffage provides rich analyses and testimonies.

Future perspectives on the expansion of urban heating networks: the case of Haiyang as an example

The success of the Haiyang project opens promising perspectives for the expansion of urban heating networks in other districts and countries. The experience gained and the technologies developed constitute a true reference in the energy sector, demonstrating that it is possible to reconcile thermal comfort and energy efficiency on a large scale.

With the construction of two new CAP1000 reactors planned for 2027, the thermal production capacity could even be increased to serve a larger perimeter. This equipment allows for anticipating demographic and urban growth while respecting energy transition commitments.

Here are some trends to watch in the coming years:

• Geographical extension: integration of new cities and districts
• Advanced technologies: intelligent control and network optimization
• Strengthening renewable energy: hybridization with other green sources
• Increased user involvement: awareness and monitoring of consumption
• Continuous performance improvement: reduced losses and energy optimization

Future orientation	Description	Expected impact
Geographical extension	Gradual integration of new urban regions	wider coverage and comfort for more inhabitants
Intelligent systems	Automated and adaptive management of heat	Less waste and optimized consumption
Energy hybridization	Nuclear combined with other renewable energies	Increased reduction of polluting emissions
Citizen participation	Engagement of residents in energy monitoring	Greater relevance of measures and satisfaction

This innovative urban heating network represents a model that many cities aspire to, similar to projects observed in Europe in cities such as Helsinki or Paris. More information on this topic is available on the portal Prime Coup de Pouce Chauffage.