Developing heat infrastructure
Our public heating networks ensure optimum deployment of renewable sources for the lowest costs to society and with transparent prices for consumers. The approach encourages the development of new, local sources of heat and the further greening of the network. The collective system provides access to the full potential of locally available sustainable sources, such as aquathermal energy, residual heat from data centres, biomass and geothermal energy. In 2023, we worked on developing and expanding district heating networks in various municipalities through our subsidiary Firan.
In Harderwijk, the district heating network for the new Waterfront residential area was put into service. Since the spring, 130 new homes have been using the district heating network, which can accommodate a total of 1,100 homes.
In Apeldoorn, the municipality and ‘Gelders Warmte Infrabedrijf’ (Gelderland Heating Infrastructure Company) have made the decision in principle to set up the Apeldoorn District Heating Network to develop and manage the heating network in the Kerschoten district.
In Haarlem, the municipality, Elan Wonen, Ymere, Equans and Firan made an investment decision, under certain conditions, to construct a district heating network for the Meerwijk district.
A preliminary investment decision was made in the Amsterdam Buikslotermeer district for a heating network that will recover heat from wastewater.
An SDE+++ subsidy was granted in 2023 for the development of a district heating network that uses local geothermal heat in the ‘Duin- & Bollenstreek’ (dune and bulb-growing area) in the Holland Rijnland region.
Collaboration to take the local heat transition a step further
An important milestone in the local heat transition was setting up the Gelders Warmte Infra Bedrijf (GWIB) in early 2023, which was approved by Gelderland Provincial Council in 2022. The public organisation is used by the Province of Gelderland, Firan and Oost NL as a basis for accelerating the heat transition in Gelderland. Another 340,000 homes can potentially be connected to district heating networks in the province. GWIB supports municipalities in the development, construction and operation of public district heating networks. For this, Firan is sharing knowledge and expertise on open future-proof heat infrastructure.