Kortrijk is located in South-West Flanders, seamlessly blends the grandeur of a metropolis with the coziness of a village. The Leie River has historically played an important role in the city's history, particularly in trade and the flax industry. Thanks to participation in the WaterWarmth project, the Leie will soon also play a role in the energy transition. The Leie flows through the city center, essentially embracing the Buda Island.
Kortrijk Green Deal
As an innovative city, Kortrijk aims for energy neutrality by 2050, emphasizing the increase of renewable energy. This goal is supported by a concrete climate plan, the 'Green Deal,' consisting of 10 key points. Kortrijk aims to raise the share of renewable energy to 10% by 2025 and 15% by 2030, actively contributing to the fight against climate change and fortifying itself against extreme weather conditions.
Heat Zoning Plan
Kortrijk faces limited opportunities to harness residual heat within its territory. In collaboration with the Belgian grid operator Fluvius, a heat zoning plan was developed, examining possible techniques/energy sources for each zone. This plan identifies four potential heat networks based on sustainable heat sources in and around Kortrijk, including the Buda Island and Kortrijk Weide.
Potential of Aquathermal Energy in Kortrijk
Kortrijk Weide is a dynamic urban district with educational buildings, research centers, coworking spaces, event venues, and a large swimming complex. The heat network is a collaboration between various educational and governmental partners, established within the framework of the Interreg project Heatnet NWE. An energy community is being formed to manage this heat network, aiming for further sustainability, smart control, and potential expansion.
Near Kortrijk Weide, Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen is developing the 'Havenkaai' project, a new building that integrates living, entrepreneurship, and education by bringing together student housing, educational facilities, shops, and gardens.
Not only at Havenkaai but also with the heat network of Kortrijk Weide and on the Buda Island, the city of Kortrijk sees opportunities for the successful application of aquathermal energy. As a first step, research has already been conducted on how much energy can be extracted from watercourses to make Kortrijk energy-neutral.
The results of a quick scan were promising for developments along the Leie. Now, deeper feasibility studies are being undertaken to prepare for a large-scale implementation on Kortrijk Weide, Havenkaai, and the Buda Island.
Large-scale Implementation
The Havenkaai project by Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen is evolving and will serve as a pilot for the combined application of geothermal and aquathermal energy. Investigations are also being conducted on the possibility of linking the heat networks of Kortrijk Weide and Havenkaai for optimal operation.
Furthermore, the Buda Island represents an intriguing case study for the city of Kortrijk, with numerous city buildings and major consumers. Over the coming months, the feasibility study will continue to explore the potential of aquathermal energy on the island.
These three prominent locations represent the large-scale implementation of the WaterWarmth project in Kortrijk. The ultimate goal is to complete all necessary research, calculations, and designs within the project so that actual implementation can follow.
Next steps
In the coming weeks and months, the focus will be on involving all stakeholders for a collaborative approach. Stakeholders vary from the city government and landowners on the Buda Island to grid and energy operators. The primary goal is to build consensus and convince all involved parties to explore aquathermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
The city of Kortrijk also aims to learn from this project to address the energy transition at the neighborhood level. The plan is to expand this project to other neighborhoods, thereby accelerating the city-wide energy transition.
Although the project in Kortrijk is relatively recent, the initial results are promising. The city of Kortrijk believes in the success of the Interreg WaterWarmth project and aspires to apply aquathermal energy on a large scale in the future.