Kortrijk, the smartest energy community in Flanders

Residual heat is the energy that remains after the production process. Most companies discharge that heat unused into the environment, even though it is a valuable energy source. The 'sustainability' of residual heat is often debated because most production processes are still fueled by fossil fuels. But would it not be more wasteful if we do not use it at all? "After all, it is beyond dispute that residual heat is a perfectly deployable source of energy that can make gas boilers superfluous in the future," according to Patrick Verdonck, our Business & Innovation manager.

Antea Group has developed a heat network strategy for Kortrijk together with Beauvent and Leiedal, the inter-local association for regional development in South West Flanders. At first, waste processing company IMOG was the starting point is it is te most appropriate source for heating the city using residual heat. "But, unfortunately, this wasn’t feasible financially. So I'm happy that I was able to convince the city council to work back to front," explains Verdonck. "Now the new development of Kortrijk Weide with its Olympic swimming pool, Hangar K, and the new buildings of UGhent and Howest – which are farthest from IMOG – make up the nucleus of this smart energy community."

In the beginning, this part would be fueled by a combined heat and power (CHP) unit that runs on (bio) gas. Later it should be supplemented with solar energy and heat pumps in order to make the heat supply more sustainable one step at a time. We also investigated the best possible route to gradually expand the heat network so that it could become part of the 'Smart Energy Grid'.

To make the desired energy landscape a reality, we needed a 'Smart Energy Community'. Knowledge institutions, such as Flanders Make, Vegitech, UGhent, Howest, and PTI, were prepared to join the energy community with the city of Kortrijk and the Province of West Flanders. We ensured active involvement of all stakeholders through working groups, putting emphasis on the exchange of renewable energy, optimisation of existing installations, and the use of residual energy. Additionally, we succeeded in rolling out even more renewable energy, further optimising the energy system and making a significant contribution to the integration of the generated energy into a more flexible energy system.

Heat networks alone are not enough to make the energy transition possible. One plus one equals three: it is only when all sources are fueled by renewable energy, that a heat network can yield enormous CO2 reductions. Next to potential climate gains, there are also many other benefits for the participants in the smart energy community. Thanks to the decentralisation of energy production, the costs can be divided. And because everyone contributes this, in turn, will strengthen social cohesion within the community. Patrick Verdonck concludes: "I am convinced of the added value this energy community provides in the realisation of the transition, both ecologically, economically and socially. As far as I am concerned, Kortrijk is the smartest smart energy community in Flanders."