What if decarbonising heat could also help balance the electricity grid? In Narbonne, France, Alpiq and Newheat are demonstrating with Narboflex how low-carbon heat, thermal storage and power system flexibility can work together in one innovative solution.
In Narbonne, southern France, Alpiq and Newheat have combined their expertise in Narboflex, an innovative solution commissioned on the city’s district heating network in April 2026.
The concept brings together the production and storage of low-carbon heat with the needs of the electricity system. An electric boiler is integrated into the thermal storage system of the Narbosol solar thermal plant. The boiler can then be operated flexibly according to both the heating requirements of the district heating network and the flexibility needs of the electricity grid.
Combining complementary expertise
The project builds on the complementary strengths of Newheat and Alpiq.
Newheat designs and installs the low-carbon heat production solution, integrates it into the existing thermal system and manages the overall operation of the installation.
Alpiq contributes its expertise in electricity markets and flexibility. It optimises the electric boiler in real time in response to market signals, including through its participation in the automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) since summer 2026.
This creates benefits on two fronts: improving the economics of heat decarbonisation while making additional flexible capacity available to help balance the electricity grid.
Narboflex demonstrates the value of combining expertise in low-carbon heat production and thermal storage with expertise in energy markets and the commercial optimisation of electrical flexibility from the very start of a project.
Through Narboflex, Alpiq and Newheat are working together to contribute to climate protection while strengthening security of supply.
The approach also has potential well beyond Narbonne. Similar solutions could play an increasingly important role in the decarbonisation of district heating networks and industrial sites, combining electrification, thermal storage and flexibility to meet the needs of both heat consumers and the electricity system.
About Alpiq in France
Active across Europe and a market leader in Switzerland, the Alpiq Group operates across the entire value chain - from electricity generation and distribution to energy supply and optimisation. Seventy-five percent of its electricity production (5 GW in Europe) is decarbonised, mainly thanks to hydropower.
In France, Alpiq has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of electricity and natural gas to industrial and commercial customers. Alpiq is also a recognised aggregator of decentralised generation assets, both flexible and intermittent. Its in-depth knowledge of the electricity market enables Alpiq to support renewable electricity producers (wind, photovoltaic, hydropower, waste-to-energy) with a comprehensive and tailored offering, whether or not their assets benefit from public support.
Since 2021, Alpiq has also been offering electricity supply services to residential customers.