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Accelerating the energy transition of cities and local authorities

By ENGIE - 27 November 2025 - 12:00

The energy transition is a global challenge that plays out at the local level and within cities. According to data from the United Nations and the IPCC, urban areas account for around 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the face of the climate emergency and to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement, local authorities must achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This requires a fundamental rethink of their energy systems.

ENGIE positions itself as a strategic partner, helping territories design their energy transition plans and supporting them in implementing low-carbon solutions: district heating and cooling networks, renewable energy production, and energy efficiency initiatives. This expertise spans from France to international markets.

 

What does the energy transition mean for local authorities? 


The energy transition involves shifting from a fossil-fuel-based system to a decarbonized, more efficient, and more resilient model. In practical terms, this includes renovating public buildings, optimizing gas and electricity networks, reducing public energy consumption, and deploying renewable energy sources at scale—such as solar power and low-carbon heating networks. 

 

ENGIE’s expertise abroad


ENGIE leads several flagship projects to accelerate the energy transition across European cities. In Berlin, the Neue Gartenfeld district embodies the low-carbon city of tomorrow, with cogeneration, solar power, and sustainable mobility solutions. In Florence, ENGIE is improving the energy efficiency of 400 historic buildings—including the Palazzo Vecchio—saving up to 45,000 tons of CO₂ per year. In the German cities of Saarbrücken and Gera, ENGIE is replacing coal-fired plants with gas cogeneration units and modernizing district heating networks, reducing emissions by more than 110,000 tons of CO₂ annually. 

 

Our solutions in France

 

ENGIE in France:

  • 70,000 business and local authority clients
  • Ranked #1 among major suppliers for satisfaction among public and private purchasers (2025 CLEEE–FNCCR barometer)
  • 1,000 renewable energy and storage sites across the country
  • 9,500 municipalities served by a gas network, and 500 by a heating and/or cooling network

 

To accelerate the energy transition, ENGIE supports French local authorities in implementing their climate action plans. Examples include:

  • In Marcoussis (Essonne), the largest solar farm in the Paris region supplies power to 10,000 residents each year.
  • In Terres de Montaigu (Vendée), a biomethane unit transforms agricultural waste into biogas—a local and sustainable source of energy.
  • With Fraîcheur de Paris, ENGIE is deploying Europe’s first urban cooling network, which cools iconic Paris landmarks including the Louvre, City Hall, the National Assembly, and Forum des Halles—while reducing the city’s carbon footprint. 

 

How is ENGIE supporting the energy transition across French regions?
Listen to three of our Regional Delegates as they present the low-carbon initiatives and solutions implemented by ENGIE in their territories. 

 

Stéphane Mamou, Regional Delegate for Pays de la Loire

Sébastien Ramos, Regional Delegate for Brittany

Caroline Renaudat, Regional Delegate for Centre–Val de Loire

Discover our projects and business cases for local areas: