Västermalmsverket is a combined heat and power plant producing both heat and electricity. The installation of an absorption cooling machine reduced electricity consumption compared with conventional cooling systems. At the same time, it increased electricity production at the plant. Falun is also developing a wood pellet factory to produce more renewable electricity during summer, when heat demand is lowest.

Amsterdam’s district heating programme began in the early 1990s, with the city deciding in 2005 to expand the network to new construction projects wherever feasible. The system reduces CO₂ emissions by 50–80% and grew to 50,000 consumers in 2010. The City of Amsterdam and NUON cooperate through WPW to further expand district heating. NUON also developed district cooling using deep lakes as a natural cold source, reducing CO₂ emissions by 75% and avoiding harmful cooling fluids.

Gothenburg’s district heating system originally consisted of eight separate heating networks powered by oil-fired plants. Rising oil prices made the system economically unsustainable, leading Göteborg Energi to connect the eight networks into one large system. From the 2000s, the city increasingly integrated waste heat from power plants, refineries and waste incineration. The Rya heating plant was also converted from natural gas to wood pellets in 2003. Today, nearly 80% of Gothenburg’s district heating comes from recovered waste heat.

DISTRICLIMA was established in 2002 to develop Spain’s first district heating and cooling network for heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water. The network began operating in 2004 in a redeveloped area of Barcelona around the Forum Area. In 2005, following a public tender, the network was extended to the 22@ technological district. Today, Districlima is the largest urban district heating and cooling network in Spain.

The Birmingham District Energy Scheme was designed, built, financed and operated by Cofely District Energy. The first phase, Broad Street, became operational in 2007 and was later expanded to Aston University and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The scheme serves more than half a million square metres of buildings and saves approximately 9,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. Consumers also benefit from energy cost savings of more than £300,000 annually compared with conventional energy supplies. The long-term goal is to connect the separate networks into a city-wide thermal network.

Seattle Steam began producing steam from a biomass boiler in 2010, using clean urban waste wood from local sources. This initiative is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 45,000 tonnes annually. The biomass project is part of Seattle Steam’s broader environmental initiatives. In partnership with the City of Seattle and a local energy services contractor, the company also implemented energy-efficiency retrofits in customer buildings. The project combines renewable fuel use with energy efficiency to create a more sustainable steam network.

The SWRO has operated a district heating network in Rosenheim since 1955. The power plant was expanded with waste incineration in 1963 and gas engines in 2004. Since 2008, the network has been significantly expanded to increase the share of district heating. Heat and electricity are produced using natural gas and waste, with an overall efficiency of just under 70%. The system reduces emissions by replacing other fuels and inefficient coal-based electricity production.

The development of district heating in Torino began in the 1980s as part of the energy strategy of the Piedmont Region, Torino Provincial Administration and Municipality. IREN Group designed and built the Torino Sud and Torino Centro district heating networks. The new Torino Nord project will further expand the system across the city. Together, these networks will provide district energy to more than 60% of Torino. The expanded system is expected to serve around 560,000 inhabitants.

The STHAL network was created in 1969 to supply the northern districts of Melun and became the first district heating network in France powered by geothermal energy. The same geothermal source is used to provide both heating and domestic hot water, which are distributed through separate networks. This unique system supplies around 4,000 housing units and 2,000 equivalent housing units in public buildings. The project demonstrated an innovative use of geothermal energy for urban heating and remains a distinctive feature of Melun’s district energy system.

Litesko launched the project to reduce air pollution caused by emissions from a woodchip boiler. Solid particle emissions varied between 400 and 800 mg/m³ depending on fuel quality, exceeding the permitted level of 400 mg/Nm³. A flue gas recovery and cleaning system was therefore installed. The system allows additional energy to be recovered while reducing solid particles. It also helps lower CO₂, CO and NOx emissions.