Heating network grows tomatoes

Near Toulouse (France), an innovative heating network now connects a Waste-to-Energy plant with a tomato greenhouse.

The Econotre eco-pole heating network gives a demonstration of energy efficiency and circular economy in practice by allowing 6,000 tonnes of tomatoes to be produced each year, without pesticides, while saving 2,200 tonnes of oil-equivalent and avoiding the emission of 6,000 tonnes of CO₂.

The network is connected to a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Waste-to-Energy plant, which produces enough electricity for 17,700 households and 25,000 MWh of heat as low-temperature steam (42°C) sent to the nearby greenhouses. This energy results from the combustion of household waste coming from 153 surrounding municipalities totaling 924,000 inhabitants.

The plant is ready to produce more thermal energy if the need arises from local development.

This project is also an example of short commercial circuit, as the tomatoes are sold only in local markets and retailers.

If you want to know more about this project, click here to read the SUEZ press release.