District Heating Market Size - By Source, By Application, Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2034

District Heating Market Size

The global district heating market was estimated at USD 187 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 196.7 billion in 2025 to USD 308.3 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 5.1%, according to Global Market Insights Inc.
 

• Growing decarbonization policies to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable, waste heat, and geothermal will boost business landscape. Surging focus on lowering network temperatures which improves efficiency and enables integration of low grade heat sources are influencing industry dynamics.
   
• District heating is a centralized system for distributing heat, typically in the form of hot water or steam, from a central plant to multiple buildings through a network of insulated pipes. The heat can be generated from various sources including combined heat and power plants, renewable energy, waste heat from industry, or large-scale heat pumps.
   
• For reference, in January 2025, the European Commission published the first in a series of guidance documents to assist EU Member States in transposing and implementing the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
   
• In addition, the document, identified as C/2024/7161, provides critical clarification on Article 17(15), which mandates the termination of all financial incentives for the installation of new standalone fossil fuel boilers by 1 January 2025.
   
• Increasing integration of renewable energy sources including geothermal and biomass into district heating systems to reduce carbon footprint will energize industry trends. Rising demand for waste heat recovery from industrial processes to improve overall energy efficiency in urban heating networks will create favorable business scenario.
   
• Expansion of district heating in cold-climate cities to replace individual heating systems with centralized and more efficient alternatives will amplify industry potential. Substantial investments in smart control systems to optimize heat distribution and reduce operational losses will further stimulate business expansion.
   
• For citation, in November 2024, Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) announced government approval of the General Scheme of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. This legislative initiative establishes a comprehensive framework to support the development and regulation of the district heating sector in Ireland.
   
• Modernization of existing infrastructure to replace outdated pipelines and enhance thermal insulation performance in line with adoption of CHP systems for simultaneous electricity and heat generation will proliferate industry momentum. Moreover, shift toward low-temperature district heating to improve efficiency and compatibility with renewable energy integration will drive business outlook.
   
• Ongoing urban planning policies promoting centralized heating solutions in high-density residential and commercial areas will positively sway the industry scenario. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in emerging economies coupled with integration of thermal energy storage systems to balance demand fluctuations and support intermittent renewable supply will bolster business growth.
   
• For instance, in Germany has taken a decisive step toward heating sector decarbonization with the enactment of the Heat Planning Act, providing much-needed regulatory clarity for the country’s energy transition. Between 2026 and 2028, nearly 11,000 municipalities are expected to submit comprehensive plans detailing how they intend to decarbonize their local heating systems.
   
• Increased use of AI-based predictive analytics for demand forecasting and energy optimization along with deployment of modular & decentralized heating units for faster implementation in expanding urban zones are driving industry landscape. Implementation of strict emission regulations is pushing operators to transition away from coal-based heating plants and will stimulate business outlook.
   
• The development of heat-as-a-service business models in association with adoption of building energy management systems connected to district heating networks for real-time efficiency tracking will create favorable business opportunities. Growing interconnecting regional heating networks to optimize resource use and reduce redundancies will accelerate business perspective.
   

District Heating Market Trends

• Key emerging economies introduced stringent emission norms and net-zero commitments toward adoption of low-carbon energy including district heating, which in turn will accelerate industry landscape. Introduction of carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes coupled with phasing out oil and coal-based boilers in buildings are driving business growth.
   
• Enforcement of stricter building codes to meet higher energy efficiency and emission standards will energize industry dynamics. Stricter penalties for exceeding emission limits incentivize companies to adopt cleaner district heating solutions that are fueling the business expansion.
• For illustration, in March 2023, Denmark advanced its renewable energy agenda with the adoption of new legislation aimed at supporting geothermal heating projects.
   
• Moreover, through the integration of renewable heat sources, governments across key geographies are focusing on increasing share of renewable heat in district networks will positively impact industry outlook. In addition, regulations encourage tapping industrial and data center waste heat into district heating grids to lower carbon footprint will augment business dynamics.
   
• Direct financial incentives for installing renewable-based heating systems or CHP plants reduce upfront investment burdens, encouraging wider adoption of these systems. Key government authorities guarantee long-term purchase prices for renewable heat and CHP-generated electricity, ensuring financial stability for projects, which will fortify business outlook.
   
• For instance, in March 2023, the United Kingdom took a significant regulatory step toward decarbonizing its heating sector with the introduction of the Energy Security Bill, which includes provisions for heat network regulation and the establishment of heat zoning frameworks.
   
• Policymakers promote CHP owing to it maximizing fuel efficiency by producing electricity and heat simultaneously, often granting tax exemptions or reduced energy levies to these plants. Supportive fund innovation programs for integrating renewable energy into urban heating will boost business prospects.
   
• Furthermore, policies encourage cities to design integrated energy systems with centralized heat distribution, combining CHP, renewables, and storage for optimal efficiency which will proliferate industry opportunities. Governments co-invest with private firms to expand and modernize heat networks are stimulating business dynamics.
   
• For reference, in April 2023, the European Union approved a financial package of USD 466 million to support the development of a green district heating initiative in the Czech Republic.
   
• Expanding cities and growing industrial hubs are creating concentrated heat demand, making district heating a cost-effective, scalable solution. Rapid development of multi-story residential complexes in line with substantial investment in expansion of industrial parks will create favorable business growth.
   
• Ongoing infrastructure development to expand city’s network can integrate district heating pipelines in tandem with rising energy demand will propel business potential. Continuous upgradation of public facilities including schools, hospitals, and government buildings is fueling the demand for district heating systems.
   

District Heating Market Analysis

• Based on source, the industry is segmented into CHP, geothermal, solar, heat only boiler, and others. The CHP district heating market holds a share of 50.5% in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4.5% through 2034. Gradual shift from fossil fuel to renewable CHP to meet decarbonization mandates will foster industry growth.
   
• Rapid integration with waste heat recovery from industrial processes to boost thermal efficiency will escalate business dynamics. Implementation of advanced controls for real-time optimization of heat and power dispatch will boost industry scenario.
   
• For reference, in March 2025, in Germany, Cologne is advancing its path toward carbon neutrality with a USD 325.38 million investment to modernize its district heating network through the installation of a 150 MW heat pump on the Rhine River.
   
• The geothermal district heating market will exceed USD 10 billion by 2034. Robust development of geothermal propelled by the push for constant and low-carbon baseload heat supply will augment industry potential. Moreover, exploration of deep geothermal resources in urban areas to serve dense heat demand zones will fuel business outlook.
   
• The solar district heating market was valued at USD 3.07 billion in 2024. Increasing adoption of large-scale solar collector fields and integration with seasonal thermal storage to shift summer heat production to winter use, which in turn will augment service demand.
   
• For citation, in June 2025, the city of Lons-le-Saunier entered a new phase in the expansion and modernization of its district heating network through a strategic agreement with ENGIE Solutions. The project focuses on upgrading existing infrastructure, enhancing system reliability, and advancing the decarbonization of the local energy supply.
   
• Supportive policy frameworks and incentives programs for renewable heat are accelerating utility-scale solar thermal installations. Growing adoption in smaller towns and rural district heating systems as decentralized renewable sources in association with implementation of tracking collectors in high solar-yield regions to maximize annual output will create favorable business scenario.
   
• The heat only boiler segment will grow at a rate of over 5% through 2034. The shift toward biomass-fired units where sustainable feedstock is available coupled with integration with advanced flue gas condensation to boost efficiency and recover latent heat will energize business landscape.
   

• Based on application, the district heating market is segmented into commercial, residential, and industrial. The residential segment dominates the market with 37.8% share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4.5% from 2025 to 2034.
   
• Rising demand in densely populated urban areas owing to convenience and reduced need for individual heating systems will sway positive business scenario. Growing interest in connection-ready housing developments, where district heating is integrated from the design stage will fuel industry growth.
   
• For illustration, in April 2025, Gradyent successfully raised USD 32.54 million for growth funding round led by the global impact investor Blue Earth Capital. The capital will be used to scale Gradyent’s Digital Twin Platform, expand its team, and accelerate international growth.
   
• The commercial district heating market was valued at USD 59.4 billion in 2024. Rapid expansion of offices, malls, hotels, and hospitals along with the need for consistent and reliable heating will energize industry momentum. Integration with building energy management systems for optimized operation and reduced costs will further boost the deployment of district heating across commercial establishments.
   
• For instance, in January 2025, Stadtwerke Reutlingen secured a USD 81.35 million loan from the European Investment Bank to advance its strategic investment program in electricity and district heating infrastructure.
   
• Surging development of campus of colleges which require district heating networks to serve multiple academic buildings from central plants are fostering industry scenario. Retrofitting older campus infrastructure with low-temperature heat distribution for reduced losses will escalate these solutions.
   
• Rapid integration with smart building systems for automated load control and optimization along with corporate decarbonization commitments and energy performance certifications will fuel business potential. Additionally, flexible heating capacity to match fluctuating occupancy patterns in hybrid work models will fuel service portfolio.
   
• For citation, in June 2025, the European Commission awarded a USD 15.69 million grant to Mijnwater to support the expansion of its sustainable district heating and cooling network in Zuid-Limburg, Netherlands.
• Growing deployment of district heating systems in government complexes to consolidate heating for multiple buildings will spur business growth. Increasing use in military bases for both residential quarters and operational facilities along with focus on energy security through diverse and redundant heat sources will proliferate industry perspective.
   
• The industrial district heating market is set to reach over USD 90 billion by 2034. Growing developments of industrial parks where shared heating networks improve efficiency along with the utilization of these solutions to recycle waste heat within and between industrial processes are bolstering business growth.
   
• Integration of district heating for processing steam and space heating across chemical plants along with recovery of low and medium grade waste heat from exothermic reactions in local district heating networks will fuel industry potential. Rapid deployment of corrosion resistant piping and fittings to handle chemical plant heat sources are fostering business outlook.
   

• The U.S. dominated the district heating market in North America with around 86.2% share in 2024 and generated USD 12.6 billion in revenue. Expansion of district heating in urban areas fueled by CHP integration for efficiency gains will foster industry dynamics.
   
• The growth in biomass-fueled heating plants in municipalities to meet renewable energy mandates along with retrofit of aging district heating infrastructure with advanced, insulated piping to reduce heat loss will propel business momentum. Utilization of waste heat from industrial facilities for district networks in manufacturing-heavy regions will further fuel industry trend.
   
• For illustration, in March 2025, a coalition of state legislators, labor representatives, and environmental stakeholders convened at the State Capital in Albany, urging Governor Hochul and State Legislature to allocate USD 200 million in the FY 2026 budget to support the development of Thermal Energy Network at SUNY campuses and municipal utilities.
   
• The North America district heating market will exceed USD 20 billion by 2034. Surging integration of district heating networks with cogeneration plants for higher energy efficiency paired with demand for district heating-supported hot water loops in chemical R&D and pilot plants will energize industry landscape.
   
• The Europe district heating market was evaluated at USD 86.8 billion in 2024. The strong push toward full decarbonization along with widespread replacement of coal-based systems with combined heat and power plants will positively influence business growth. Substantial expansion of interconnected regional heat networks to optimize resource sharing between municipalities and industrial zones is driving industrial dynamics.
   
• For reference, in August 2025, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank have jointly disbursed USD 4.25 billion from the Modernization Fund to advance 34 strategic energy projects across nine EU Member States.
   
• The Asia Pacific district heating market is projected to register at a CAGR of over 6% through 2034. Rapid urbanization and industrialization growth across the region in line with shift from fossil fuels to clean energy sources will proliferate business outlook. Large scale integration of geothermal energy in district heating along with growing development of industrial zones in the region will fuel industrial growth.
   

District Heating Market Share

• The top 5 companies in the district heating industry are ENGIE, Vattenfall, Veolia, Fortum, and Danfoss contributing around 15% of the market in 2024. The market is characterized by a mix of established regional utilities, municipal energy companies, and private infrastructure operators, leading to moderately consolidated yet regionally fragmented competitive landscape.
   
• In key emerging economies, large state-backed or municipally owned companies dominate, benefitting from extensive infrastructure networks, strong regulatory support, and long-term customer contracts. Competition is often based on fuel mix diversification, service reliability, and pricing efficiency, with operators increasingly integrating renewable and waste heat sources to comply with decarbonization policies.
   
• Vattenfall operates in a highly competitive district market, leveraging its scale and commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040. The company emphasizes renewable energy integration, electrification, and phasing out fossil fuels, positioning itself against peers that are slower to decarbonize.
   
• Veolia is prominent company in environmental services and district heating market, with its extensive networks across Europe. Its competitive strength lies in its integrated approach, combining waste-to-energy, biomass, and industrial symbiosis to supply sustainable heating solutions.
   
• ENGIE is a major global energy company with significant investments in district heating, particularly in Europe and Asia. Its competitive position anchored in its comprehensive energy portfolio, which includes renewable, natural gas, and innovative heating technologies. The company leverages CHP plants, geothermal, and waste heat recovery to provide sustainable district heating services.
   
• Fortum is a significant competitor in the Nordic and Baltic district heating markets, with a growing presence in Eastern Europe. The company’s strength lies in its ability to combine CHP generation with renewable and waste-derived fuels, ensuring both efficiency and sustainability.
   
• Over the past 3 years, the market has seen steady expansion across both mature and emerging economies. Overall capacity and network penetration have grown as urbanization accelerates, and climate policies tighten. In addition, the adoption of smart metering and digital monitoring solutions has created opportunities for both established and emerging players to differentiate through service reliability and energy efficiency.
   

District Heating Market Companies

• In first half of 2025, ENGIE reported revenue of USD 44.26 billion, representing a 1.4% increase on a reported basis and 2.9% growth organically. EBITDA came in at USD 9.64 billion, declining 7.4% on a reported basis and 5.5% organically. EBIT reached USD 5.92 billion, reflecting a 9.4% decrease on a reported basis and a 6.4% decline organically.
   
• Veolia delivered sustained growth with revenue of USD 25.61 billion, up 3.8% excluding energy price impacts, consistent with quarter 1 performance. Operational results remained strong and aligned with full-year guidance, supported by USD 221.87 million in annual efficiency gains and USD 54.6 million in synergies.
   
• In 2024, Ramboll reported gross revenue of USD 2.73 billion, reflecting a 3.2% increase from USD 2.65 billion in 2023. Organic growth stood at 1.9%, down from 8.8% in the prior year. Acquisitions and divestments contributed a net growth of 1.1% while favorable currency movements added a 0.2% uplift to revenue.
   

Major players operating in the district heating market are:

• A2A S.p.A.
• Alfa Laval
• Antin Infrastructure Partners
• BEW Berlin Energy and Heat
• CenTrio
• Cordia
• Danfoss
• E.ON
• EDF
• EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg
• ENGIE
• Fortum
• Göteborg Energi
• Hafslund
• Iren S.p.A.
• Kelag Energie & Wärme
• Keppel
• Korea District Heating
• LOGSTOR Denmark Holding
• Nevel
• Ørsted
• Ramboll
• RWE
• Shinryo Corporation
• Statkraft
• STEAG
• Vattenfall
• Veolia
   

District Heating Industry News

• In May 2025, ENGIE, in partnership with Suma Capital, inaugurated a new renewable district heating network in the city of Zamora. The project is developed through DH Ecoenergías Zamora, which focuses on sustainable infrastructure for the energy transition. In addition, these initiatives marked a key milestone in advancing the decarbonization of urban heating, integrating technological innovation with the use of local, renewable energy sources.
   
• In August 2024, A2A in collaboration with DBA Group and Retelit, has launched Italy's first project to recover heat from data centers for district heating in Milan. The initiative, powered by the "Avalon 3" data center, provided heat to 1,250 additional households annually. This project also resulted in energy savings equivalent to 1,300 TOE and prevent 3,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions, contributing environmental benefits equal to planting 24,000 trees. This project effectively utilizes the excess heat produced during cooling, which would otherwise go to waste, aligning with future energy demands and sustainability goals
   
• In March 2024, Fortum, in collaboration with Hitachi Energy, implemented a groundbreaking project to utilize excess heat from data centers for heating homes and business premises. This project covers 40% of the district heating needs for 250,000 users in a CO2-free manner. In addition, Hitachi Energy provided an advanced grid connection solution to power the world’s largest heat recovery initiative, replacing fossil fuels with a sustainable, emission-free energy source in Fortum's district heating system in the Helsinki capital area.
   
• In February 2024, Ørsted entered into an agreement with VEKS and CTR to utilize surplus heat from the carbon capture process at Avedøre Power Station. The carbon capture plant, set to begin operation in 2026, will capture 150,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from the station's straw-fired unit. The surplus heat generated from the process will be upgraded via a heat pump and used to provide district heating for households in the Greater Copenhagen area, offering a green, cost-effective heating solution while reducing energy consumption.
   

The district heating market research reports include in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of volume (PJ) & revenue (USD Billion) from 2025 to 2034, for the following segments:

Market, By Source

• CHP
• Geothermal
• Solar
• Heat only boiler
• Others

Market, By Application

• Residential
• Commercial
  • College/university
  • Office
  • Government/military
  • Others
• Industrial
  • Chemical
  • Refinery
  • Paper
  • Others

The above information has been provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • Russia
  • Sweden
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Denmark
  • UK
  • Slovakia
  • Austria
  • Czech Republic
  • France
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea