Construction of network for distribution of sustainable heat to 120,000 homes to be started
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and energy infrastructure company Gasunie today finalised the investment decision regarding the construction of a heat distribution network between the port of Rotterdam and the municipality of The Hague. Eneco will be the first heat supply company to supply heat transported via this network to homes in The Hague. The underground pipeline is going to make residual heat from companies in the port area available to up to 120,000 homes and other buildings in the province of Zuid Holland, thus reducing carbon emissions by some 0.18 megaton per year. It is expected that the construction of the WarmtelinQ project by Gasunie will be completed in 2025.
State Secretary of Economic Affairs and Climate, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius: “The long period leading up to this complicated project involved a lot of preparation and a large number of collaboration partners. The shift from planning to doing is a true milestone. In time, this heat distribution network will make it possible to supply up to 120,000 homes with residual heat that would otherwise remain unused. This is a big and future-proof step towards improving sustainability in the Zuid-Holland region.’
Existing and new heat networks
WarmtelinQ is going to be an open distribution pipeline to which a variety of users, such as energy suppliers and sustainable and other sources of heat, can be connected. As the first to sign a transmission agreement with Gasunie, Eneco is going to supply heat to homes and other buildings via The Hague’s existing heat network. The heat distribution network offers sufficient capacity to supply heat to even more homes, companies and horticulture businesses along the pipeline between Rotterdam and The Hague in the long term.
Residual heat from port of Rotterdam
The residual heat generated by companies in the Rotterdam port area is released as the product of industrial and other processes and would otherwise go unused. Using this residual heat for buildings and the horticulture sector decreases the need for heat that is produced using natural gas. In addition to the use of residual heat, more sustainable and other heat sources such as geothermal energy can be connected in the future.
Ulco Vermeulen, member of Gasunie’s Management Board: “WarmtelinQ is the first addition to our new-energy portfolio. The use of residual heat means a significant reduction in the use of natural gas. This is in line with Gasunie’s ambition to tap into new forms of energy.”
Extension to Leiden
Together with the province of Zuid-Holland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, Gasunie is investigating the possibility of adding an extension that would run between the municipalities of Rijswijk and Leiden. Through this extension, 50,000 homes connected to the heat networks in the Leiden region could be supplied with sustainable heat. Gasunie has also explored the possibilities for further expansion in the form of an integrated design based on which the number of homes that would become more sustainable could be increased substantially. On Budget Day in September 2021, the cabinet announced that it is making extra funds available for energy infrastructure projects that are important for the climate and energy transition. This includes the WarmtelinQ project.