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CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has begun supplying waste heat from its cooling system to the French town of Ferney-Voltaire, aiming to heat several thousand homes. The initiative, active since mid-January, utilizes a new heat exchange system that channels heat from the LHC's cooling network into Ferney-Voltaire's district heating system, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

The setup utilizes two 5 MW heat exchangers and could potentially double output when CERN is fully operational. However, the LHC is scheduled for a Long Shutdown 3 beginning in mid-2026, which will temporarily reduce heating output. CERN is also exploring additional waste heat recovery projects, including at its Prévessin data center, expected to be operational by late 2026.