To be carbon-neutral by 2050, the Green Deal wants Europe to emit a net 55 percent less CO2 than in 1990 by 2030. Building heating plays an important role in this. A heat zoning map per municipality or area - now "inspiration map" - is a first step in preparing for the transition. For concrete policy, however, a heat policy plan is needed. What are the focal points in this? What role does psychology play in this story? And what is the link with mobility?
In recent years, we at Ingenium have put a lot of effort into drawing up heat zoning maps. For each city/municipality or area, we examine which sustainable heating solution is the most interesting from a technical and especially an economic point of view. A distinction is made between collective systems and individual systems.
Meanwhile, the heat zoning map has been renamed the inspiration map, with the Flemish Association of Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) leading the way. Ingenium is a partner in this story, together with VITO, software company Agifly and several other study agencies. With the inspiration map, local governments can inform citizens which form of heating is most interesting per street and even per building. However, this is only the beginning.
To concretize the European objectives, the Flemish government will update the heat plan in early 2022. This will provide the broader framework for making the transition to fossil-free heating. It is expected that municipalities will probably have to draw up a heat policy plan or heat transition plan by 2025. This plan will make concrete how the transition will be made from gas and fuel oil heating to non-fossil heating. We are then talking about heat pumps, solar boilers and the use of residual heat from industry or incinerators, but equally small-scale low-temperature ambient heat from watercourses, sewers or data centers.
While the inspiration map is a neutral, objectively calculated map, the heat policy plan - based on local opportunities - does make concrete choices: in which district does the local government take which initiatives? What is the focus and based on which objectives?
The heat pump plays an important role in the energy transition. However, many homes in Flanders are currently not ready for low-temperature heating. A first step in a concrete plan at the local level could be to subject older homes to the 50-degree test. This examines how the home reacts on cold winter days to a low(er) flow temperature of the boiler water. If the comfort is insufficient, the first step is to improve the insulation of the house. For thorough renovations, circuits for floor or wall heating can be installed. The final step in the plan is to effectively transition to a heat pump as the heat source. The heat transition is thus a two-stage rocket, first increasing energy efficiency by reducing heat demand, and then moving to fossil-free heating.
In addition, higher government regulations also play an important role in the choices made by local governments. At the federal level, a tax shift that makes gas more expensive and electricity cheaper is needed to lower thresholds both for heat pumps and for other fossil-free heating alternatives to gas such as solar water heaters and heat networks. In the future, Flanders will presumably map who still burns fuel oil.
Local boards can then push for a reduction in CO2 emissions by guiding owners to renovate their heating systems, or better yet, their entire homes.
Ingenium participates in drawing up the climate plans of cities and municipalities in Flanders. The heat policy plan is a necessary part of such a climate plan, which looks at climate mitigation measures (energy savings in companies, renewable energy, alternatives to car traffic, etc.) and climate adaptation measures such as water buffering and reuse and avoiding the heat island effect. Even more important than correct figures is the interaction with stakeholders. The plan must be created through a participatory process including citizens, businesses, local merchants, schools, intermunicipalities, grid managers and all municipal departments involved in implementation. Only on the basis of maximum engagement can ambitious goals be achieved.
Let's go one step further. The heat transition is not unrelated to the demand for electricity, and thus immediately to the mobility of the future. The heat pumps that must make buildings fossil-free need electricity most in the winter, when there is less sun. Electrification of the car fleet will also increase electricity demand. The federal government wants to build gas power plants to accommodate the phasing out of nuclear capacity and ensure security of supply.
At first glance, the fact that these gas power plants will create additional CO2 emissions seems unfavorable for the climate issue. However, generating the electricity also releases a lot of heat, which can be used, for example, to feed a heat network that heats homes and other buildings. Thus, the additional CO2 emissions can be reduced or even neutralized.
To be able to make smart decisions in the future, we need a spatial energy plan. This will determine where we want to create electricity hubs that are also heat hubs and hubs for electric vehicles. In the future, business parks will need a lot of electricity during the day to charge cars. This can be done with solar or wind energy generated locally. The residual heat from industry on the business park can then serve as a heat source for the nearby neighborhood or city.
The heat policy plan is an important link in meeting the enormous climate challenges. It turns the opportunities of the inspiration map into concrete executable and testable policies, and is part of the broader climate plan. A spatial energy plan can in the future detect new opportunities in the growing demand for electricity in combination with the heat transition, and can especially ensure cross-pollination between sectors through system integration.
The challenges are enormous. As engineers, we take up the gauntlet to translate them into policy choices, with commitments as well as supporting pathways to create the necessary commitment.
Would you like to know more about the inspiration map, heat policy plans or spatial energy plans and how Ingenium can help you concretely? Our expert Joris Dedecker would be happy to explain more via 050 40 45 30 or joris.dedecker@ingenium.be.
