With the help of Flemish Minister of Economy and Innovation Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister of Energy Zuhal Demir, and Mayor of the City of Genk Wim Dries, two new infrastructure projects of the EnergyVille research collaboration – CollecThor and THOREAQ – have officially been inaugurated. Both projects are part of the Open Thor Living Lab – a living energy lab that spreads its wings over Thor Park, the New Texas social housing estate, the Waterschei garden districts, and KRC Genk – and form an important steppingstone for innovative research into new construction techniques and heating technologies.

CollecThor: underground exchange of heat and cold

It does not need much explaining these days that heat and cold are important energy carriers. Additionally, the heating and cooling of buildings offers great potential for sustainability. CollecThor – the 5th generation district heating network launched at Thor Park today – aims to explore the maximum potential of intelligent district heating networks. The intention is to heat and cool buildings sustainably, and to exchange and store a maximum of residual heat and cold via an underground district heating network. In this first phase, the existing buildings of Thor Park (Thor Central, IncubaThor, EnergyVille 1 and 2) and 8 additional vacant plots will be connected to this network.

"The potential of 5th generation district heating networks, in which energy surpluses are used to the maximum through mutual exchange and storage, is very large. These types of thermal grids, where in principle no additional heat source is required, will be very important to maximize the level of renewable energy in local energy cycles. By industrializing the approach, developing an intelligent control system, and clarifying organizational and business models, we aspire to be an accelerator for future projects." Gerrit Jan Schaeffer, (General Manager EnergyVille).

THOREAQ: testing new construction and energy techniques in two identical test buildings

Work is also to be done in the field of sustainable construction and renovation. 40% of European energy demand takes place in buildings, resulting in a share of 36% of all European CO2 emissions.

Innovation and upscaling are therefore essential. THOREAQ aims to develop a permanent research infrastructure in which  – together with industry – innovations in renovation techniques, improvement of indoor air quality and integration of energy systems in real conditions can be tested and validated. This entails, for example, product innovations (integrated techniques, improved heat pumps or ventilation systems), but also the smart control and seamless interaction between these techniques.

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