Districlima is the operator of one of Southern Europe's largest district heating and cooling networks, serving the city of Barcelona and Sant Adrià de Besòs. Established in 2002, Districlima built Spain's first urban heat and cold distribution network, initially serving the area developed for the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures. The network was subsequently extended to Barcelona's 22@ innovation district (from 2005), Hospital del Mar (from 2016), and continues to expand with a third production plant under development.
The network consists of four parallel underground pipes carrying hot water (supply at 90°C, return at 60°C) and cold water (supply at 5.5°C, return at 14°C) from centralised production plants to substations in customer buildings. This centralised approach eliminates the need for individual building-level heating and cooling equipment, improving energy efficiency, reducing maintenance costs and improving energy ratings for connected buildings.
Districlima's energy production uses innovative renewable and waste energy sources. The Forum plant recovers steam from the El Besòs municipal waste incineration facility and uses seawater for cooling. A second plant operates in the 22@ district near Plaça de les Glòries. The company's current shareholders include French energy group Engie, and a new €44.41 million investment has been secured for a third energy-efficient cooling plant, promoted together with Tersa, Agbar and IDAE (Spain's Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving) in collaboration with Barcelona City Council.
Districlima is also participating in the EU-funded STORM project, which demonstrates smart cooling using ice-based thermal energy storage. For smart city practitioners, Districlima represents a proven model of how district energy networks can reduce emissions, improve efficiency and help mitigate the urban heat island effect in Mediterranean cities.