Framework and objective

Within the European ACCU project, Brugge Vivendo was selected as a pilot project. The project focuses on local storage and sharing of non-fossil energy, with an emphasis on local energy communities, knowledge sharing, social added value, and cooperation between partners. The project will run for four years. Ingenium translated the local case into a robust pilot context and ensured a clear project structure and coordination between Vivendo, the City of Bruges, and European partners.

Project scope

The pilot site comprises five building blocks with apartments. The concept is also relevant for application in and with the public domain, which is why the City of Bruges is involved in the project as a stakeholder. The scope can be viewed more broadly with opportunities for linking, such as greening and softening.

Current situation

The buildings have previously been renovated on the outside, including new carpentry, roof renovation, and repairs. The existing heating is electric air heating. Sanitary hot water is currently provided by electric boilers per residential unit.

Technical concept in a European context

The core of the proposed collective system is heat storage in the subsurface via shallow geothermal drilling as a seasonal buffer. Heat pumps and solar energy are combined with storage in the BEO field so that heating and cooling can be produced and controlled locally. Ingenium developed the system architecture based on the existing situation, with a focus on feasibility, phasing, and maintaining occupancy.

Study and decision-making

In the initial phase, Ingenium drew up a memorandum with a draft design, including a long list and short list for production systems and delivery systems, using a multi-criteria method with weighting factors. The criteria included maintaining occupancy, phasing of settlement, affordability, and the increasing need for cooling. This approach resulted in a well-founded and transparent choice for the client, stakeholders, and partners.

Selected scenario

A scenario with a collective low-temperature heating system

Central water heat pumps on BEO deliver 35 to 45 °C on a primary network.

· For each residential unit, the connection is made via a delivery station to the delivery elements.

· Plumbing hot water remains individual per residential unit

Status and next phase

The concept phase and selection of the preferred scenario have been completed. The next phase will start in early 2026 with the engineering, in which the accumulated evidence and choices will form a clear starting point for dimensioning and detailed design.

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