District heating is a remote heating service that allows heat to be transported from production plants to individual consumers through an extensive network of underground pipelines of hot or superheated water. Heat, in the form of hot or superheated water, is produced in modern power plants with state-of-the-art environmental and technological features. Through extensive underground pipe networks, the water reaches individual buildings and, instead of the old boilers, heats them, as well as being available for domestic hot water production.
District heating
District heating
Our network
Our network
The district heating network, designed and operated by Iren, covers the cities of Turin, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Genoa and Piacenza, for a total of 96 million m³ heated and about 900,000 inhabitants served. More than 98% of the energy fed into the network is produced by cogeneration plants, an exceptional figure achieved through the use of heat accumulators installed in power plants and along the network.
How it works
How it works
Advantages
Advantages
Sustainable, affordable and safe: district heating is one of the most effective services for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in urban centres. The most recent Italian and European regulations recognise its environmental validity and require that all new buildings constructed less than one kilometre from an existing district heating network must be prepared to be connected to the network.
Specifications needed for connection
Specifications needed for connection
In order to connect a building to the district heating network, the following essential technical conditions must be met:
- Presence of a central heating system
- Maximum operating temperature of indoor system 80 °C (flow temperature of secondary heating circuit)
- Maximum internal circuit return temperature 65-68 °C. This requirement is linked to the need to ensure a maximum return temperature on the district heating network of 70 °C
- Availability of a room (thermal power plant) to house the Heat Exchange Substation.
Connection modes
Connection modes
Connecting a customer to the district heating network involves a series of preliminary activities starting with the customer’s request for a quote and ending with the activation of the service provision. The objective of Iren is to quickly provide the customer with the following useful elements for the decision on connecting to the district heating network:
Connection fee and activities included
Connection fee and activities included
The connection fee represents the amount that the customer pays, on a one-off basis, as a participation in the investments incurred by Iren for the connection. It is typically a much lower value than the total amount of the works and includes the following preparatory activities for the connection:
1. Quotation phase:
- Quotation request management: includes all the interfacing activities between Iren and the customer in order to manage the request for a new connection to the district heating network;
- Hydraulic verification and design: on the basis of the information received, Iren carries out a series of technical checks to ensure that the technical design parameters are respected and to determine the technical characteristics of the connection;
- Preparation of the quotation: this includes the investment estimate and determination of the connection fee to be charged to the customer.
2 Connection phase following the signing of the connection commitment and acceptance of the quote by the customer:
- Executive project: Iren carries out an executive inspection at the site in order to generate a Technical Report that constitutes the executive project of the intervention that is sent to the Administrator;
- Acquisition of permits and INAIL file instruction: this includes the activities of preparing project documentation for the issue of authorisations and, in the case of plants with power >35 kW and temperature >110°C, also INAIL certification that the plant meets safety requirements;
- Excavation and pipe-laying work: once the authorisations have been obtained, the work area is set up and the excavation and pipe-laying activities begin;
- Installation of the heat exchange substation: includes the installation of the substation and connection to the customer’s plant;
- Dismantling (if any) of the existing generator: if there is insufficient space in the central heating plant room, the existing heat generator is removed and disposed of;
- Road resurfacing: after a suitable period of time has elapsed to allow the temporary resurfacing to settle, the final restoration of the tampered road surface is carried out;
- Supply activation: includes the activity of commissioning the network and heat exchange substation for the requested supply (heating, domestic hot water and/or cooling), following the signing of the supply contract.
The connection fee charged to the customer is determined on the basis of an economic analysis taking into account cash flows. In the case of users located in the vicinity of the existing network (which, therefore, do not involve network extensions or enhancements), the amount of the connection fee is defined as a lump sum based on the volume of the building to be heated according to the following scheme:
Heated volume
Up to 2,499 m³
From 2,500 m³ to 3,499 m³
From 3,500 m³ to 4,999 m³
From 5,000 m³ to 7,499 m³
From 7,500 m³ to 9,999 m³
From 10,000 m³ to 14,999 m³
From 15,000 m³ to 19,999 m³
From 20,000 m³ to 24,999 m³
From 25,000 m³ to 29,999 m³
From 30,000 m³ to 39,999 m³
From 40,000 m³ to 49,999 m³
Connection fee
(VAT excluded)
6,000 €
7,500 €
9,500 €
10,200 €
11,700 €
14,600 €
17,400 €
20,300 €
23,200 €
29,000 €
34,700 €
Espandi tabella
During commercial campaigns or in special cases, Iren could apply discounts of up to 50% compared to the flat-rate values.
Customer activities
Customer activities
Although each connection requires a project with specific features, there are generally also activities to be carried out at the customer’s expense and which are therefore not included in the connection fee. These activities are preparatory to the implementation of the connection and, in general, may include:
- adaptation work on the central heating plant room and/or secondary plant owned by the customer (e.g. transformation of the expansion circuit from open to closed vessel, replacement of circulation pumps, check of the electrical panel and earthing of the central plant, etc.);
- resolution of any environmental risks that may suspend the connection activity pending resolution by the customer (in particular, in the event of the discovery of material with asbestos fibres/artificial glass fibres, the Administrator shall be responsible for cleaning up and issuing a legal certificate of suitability of the premises);
- obtaining passage authorisations in the event that the pipes must pass through third parties’ private spaces (although the project will try as much as possible to limit the passage of pipes to condominium or public spaces only).
Additional activities that can be performed at the customer’s request
Additional activities that can be performed at the customer’s request
In addition to the activities necessary for the connection, Iren may, at the customer’s request, carry out further activities on the plant, for which it will indicate the relevant costs (in addition to the connection fee) in the quotation.
Quotation request for connection to the district heating network
Quotation request for connection to the district heating network
The Iren Group manages the district heating network for the following territorial areas:
Turin Area
- Turin
- Beinasco (since 2019)
- Collegno (since 2018)
- Grugliasco (since 2018)
- Moncalieri
- Nichelino
- Rivoli (since 2018).
Genoa
Parma
Piacenza
Reggio Emilia.
To send a quotation request, please fill in the web form. Alternatively, you can print and fill in the dedicated form, downloadable below, and send it by e-mail to commerciale.tlr@irenmercato.it or send or deliver it to the following addresses:
- Municipality of Genoa and Turin Area (Municipalities of Turin, Beinasco, Collegno, Grugliasco, Moncalieri, Nichelino and Rivoli) Iren Mercato SpA - Turin offices - via Giordano Bruno 25 - 10134 Turin
- Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia Areas
Iren Mercato SpA - Parma offices - strada S. Margherita 6/A - 43123 Parma
Modalities of withdrawal
Modalities of withdrawal
If customers connected to the district heating network wish to request termination of the contract, they may at any time submit a request for deactivation of the supply or disconnection from the network.
Deactivation of the supply means the temporary suspension of the supply of the service, without the removal of elements of the heat exchange substation; disconnection, on the other hand, includes, in addition to deactivation, the permanent removal of the heat exchange substation and any other parts of the plant owned by Iren.
Both deactivation and disconnection do not entail any fees or other charges for the customer, with the exception of those already indicated in the contractual documents (any residual safeguard fee and any residual instalment of the connection fee).
Deactivation of supply and activities included
Deactivation of supply and activities included
In the event that a customer requests the deactivation of the district heating supply with a notice period of at least one month, Iren proceeds to suspend the service by implementing the following activities:
- Management of the request: includes all the interfacing activities between Iren and the customer, in order to manage the request for deactivation of the supply;
- Closing and sealing of shut-off valves: includes the activities of closing the shut-off valves located on the district heating network section and on the customer’s plant in order to isolate the heat exchange substation. In the event that, for technical reasons, it is not possible to seal the shut-off valves, Iren shall take other measures to prevent the customer from drawing energy from the network;
- Termination reading: Iren will take a meter reading with the consumption value of termination;
- Issue of the closing invoice: based on the termination reading, the customer will receive the closing invoice for the contractual relationship.
Disconnection from the network and activities included
Disconnection from the network and activities included
Disconnection activities will always be carried out in such a way as to:
- Limit as much as possible any disruption to other connected users;
- Restore the hydraulic continuity of the network as quickly as possible.
In the event that a customer requests disconnection from the district heating network, with a notice period of at least one month, IREN proceeds to implement the following activities, in addition to the deactivation case:
- Eventual initial inspection: if necessary, Iren carries out an inspection to define the operational procedures for disconnecting the heat exchange substation;
- Disconnection and removal of the heat exchange substation: includes the physical interruption of the connection of the heat exchange substation and the removal of the same and its components, if owned by Iren (heat exchanger, valves, metering unit, etc.);
- Electrical disconnection of the heat exchange substation: includes the removal of the electrical control panel of the heat exchange substation;
- Submission of an offer for the removal of further components: at the request of the customer at the disconnection request stage, if the supply contract provides for further components, necessary for the supply of heat, owned by the customer, Iren may also submit an offer for the removal of such components;
- Interception of the district heating network: all the activities involved in intercepting the hydraulic connection circuit upstream of the customer’s private property, where this circuit does not serve other customers.
Deactivation and disconnection requests can be requested by the customer by filling in the web form.
Alternatively, you can print and fill in the dedicated form, which can be downloaded below and send it by e-mail to info.teleriscaldamento@irenmercato.it or send or deliver it to the following addresses:
- Genoa Area and Turin Area (Municipalities of Turin, Beinasco, Collegno, Grugliasco, Moncalieri, Nichelino and Rivoli) Iren Mercato SpA - Turin offices - via Giordano Bruno 25 - 10134 Turin
- Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia Areas
Iren Mercato SpA - Parma offices - strada S. Margherita 6/A - 43123 Parma
What do you need?
What do you need?
Useful information, benefits and practical information on our services: we are here to help you, solve your doubts and answer your questions.
What is the connection fee?
What is the connection fee?
The connection fee represents the amount that the customer pays, on a one-off basis, as a participation in the investments incurred by Iren for the connection. Although each connection has specific peculiarities, the connection fee generally covers only a small part of the investment made by Iren and is therefore very competitive compared to the purchase of a new boiler.
If there is no network in the street where I live, can I request connection?
If there is no network in the street where I live, can I request connection?
Absolutely: we will assess the best route to extend the district heating network up to the supply point and, if the investment is sufficiently sustainable and there are no critical hydraulic issues, we will prepare the best quote for the connection to the district heating network.
For emergency requests, whom can I contact?
For emergency requests, whom can I contact?
In case of need, to receive technical assistance or report faults in the network, you can contact the toll-free number 800.255533; remember that the Emergency Service operates 24 hours a day.