CERN, the European particle physics laboratory, has begun channeling waste heat from its Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to warm homes and businesses in the neighboring French commune of Ferney-Voltaire. An innovative heat exchange system, operational since mid-January, captures hot water from the accelerator’s cooling infrastructure, preventing the emission of thousands of tonnes of CO2 and marking a significant step in sustainable energy recovery for big science.
When you think of the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, home heating probably isn’t the first application that comes to mind. Yet, in a clever fusion of high-energy physics and practical utility, CERN is doing exactly that. This isn’t about smashing particles for warmth; it’s about capturing the substantial thermal energy produced as a byproduct of cooling the colossal machine. “Typically, hot water would then pass through a cooling tower, releasing heat into the atmosphere,” explains CERN’s energy coordinator, Nicolas Bellegarde. Now, that heat has a much more productive destination.
The system is elegantly straightforward in concept. The 27-km LHC requires extensive cooling, particularly for its cryogenic systems. At Point 8, a surface site near Ferney-Voltaire, water circulates to cool equipment and becomes warm in the process. Instead of being expelled wastefully, this hot water now passes through two 5-MW heat exchangers. These devices transfer the thermal energy directly into a new local district heating network, which officially inaugurated its connection to CERN on 12 December.
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For the community, the benefits are immediate and tangible. The network is expected to supply the equivalent of heating for several thousand homes, replacing traditional gas-based systems. While Ferney-Voltaire is currently using up to 5 MW from CERN, the capacity is ready to scale. “With two heat exchangers in the system, this could theoretically be doubled,” notes Bellegarde, especially when CERN’s accelerators are running at full tilt. This initiative is a cornerstone of CERN’s energy management strategy, which adheres to ISO 50001 standards and prioritizes recovery, efficiency, and minimizing consumption.
But what happens when the science itself pauses? The LHC is scheduled for a multi-year maintenance and upgrade period starting in summer 2026, known as Long Shutdown 3 (LS3). Even then, the heating won’t stop. Certain installations at Point 8 will remain active, allowing CERN to continue supplying between 1 and 5 MW to the Ferney-Voltaire network throughout most of the shutdown. This reliability turns CERN from an intermittent laboratory into a steadfast local energy partner.
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This project is part of a broader, concerted push at CERN to turn its massive energy footprint into a model of responsibility. Other initiatives include a heat-recovery system at the Prévessin Data Centre—set to warm most site buildings from winter 2026/2027—and plans to recover heat from the LHC Point 1 cooling towers. Collectively, these projects are projected to save a staggering 25–30 GWh per year as of 2027. It represents a profound shift in thinking: viewing the laboratory not just as a consumer of energy, but as a potential clean-energy hub for its surroundings.
The Ferney-Voltaire project is more than a technical footnote; it’s a symbolic bridge. It connects the monumental, abstract quest to understand the universe’s fundamental laws with a very grounded human need: staying warm. It proves that the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of sustainability can be not just compatible, but synergistic. As CERN continues to probe the deepest secrets of matter, it’s also ensuring some of the energy from that grand endeavor literally fuels the hearths of its neighbors.
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