How C-energy is helping to build Europe's most sustainable heating network in Kirchberg, Luxembourg

Where today the greenery of the Kuebebierg nature reserve determines the silence, a new neighbourhood full of life will arise in the coming years. In Luxembourg's Kirchberg district, the Kirchberg Fund, together with C-energy and partners, is building a future in which nature, innovation and quality of life go hand in hand. At the heart of this story is a sustainable heating network that supplies heat and cooling to more than 3,000 homes and 7,000 residents: ‘And that is one of the most advanced and ambitious networks in Europe!’ says the C-energy team enthusiastically.

The neighbourhood that heats and cools itself

In Kirchberg, Luxembourg, heat is not simply distributed: it is intelligently regulated. The heating network is an intelligent energy system in which sustainable technologies reinforce each other, entirely in line with the forward-looking vision of the Kirchberg Fund. The Fund is the public urban developer responsible for the sustainable development of the Kirchberg plateau.

Geothermal boreholes are being installed under the neighbourhood to exchange heat and cold with the subsoil. They provide the school and apartments with low-temperature heating, cooling and domestic hot water. Each hub has heat pumps, thermal storage and a local network that exchanges heat between several buildings.

When extra capacity is needed, a central energy plant provides additional supply. It houses eight aerothermal heat pumps and several buffer tanks. The plant distributes heat to the geothermal hubs via a low-temperature network at smart times.

The experts are installing hybrid solar panels on the roofs of the hubs, which produce both electrical and thermal energy. This thermal energy is used to “recharge” the geothermal boreholes. This allows the system to maintain its efficiency in the long term.

The result? A smart and flexible energy ecosystem that provides sustainable heating and cooling all year round. A system that is ready to support the quality of life of thousands of future residents. ‘And that is an important step towards a decarbonised future for the neighbourhood,’ say the Kirchberg Fund and its partners proudly.

The role of C-energy: from design to management

Together with Karno and Hydrogaz, C-energy is part of the consortium that is realising the heating network in Kirchberg. The consortium is responsible for the design, implementation, part of the financing, maintenance and operation of the network. And that has already been decided for the next 20 years.

With its strong Heat as a Service approach, C-energy plays a key role in this. This starts with project management, including the financial and contractual aspects of the project, and flows into the operational management and optimisation of the system.

‘The Kirchberg project is one of the most ambitious sustainable heating and cooling networks in Europe,’ says Stijn Van Hoye, Heat as a Service Lead at C-energy. ‘By combining shallow geothermal energy, centralised aerothermal energy and hybrid solar technology, we expect the system to run efficiently and reliably. This sets the tone for sustainable urban development in Europe.’

This approach is important in the design and during the many years that the system will be in operation. ‘Together with our partners, we share the Kirchberg Fund's vision of a low-carbon future for a new school complex and some 3,500 apartments. This is a real milestone for Luxembourg's energy transition,’ says Van Hoye.

Partners with a shared vision

The success of a project such as Kirchberg relies on cooperation between public and private partners. Together, they are creating a high-tech network that not only heats the neighbourhood, but also serves as a blueprint for the urban neighbourhoods of tomorrow.

● The Kirchberg Fund acts as the client and driving force behind sustainable urban development in the new neighbourhood.

● C-energy and Karno are joining forces for the design, implementation, financing and operation of the network.

● Hydrogaz is building the primary and secondary network.

Imtech, also part of the Cordeel Group like C-energy, is responsible for the HVAC installations, and Paul Wagner et Fils is taking care of the electrical installations and maintenance.

Looking ahead

The Kirchberg heat network perfectly illustrates how technology and vision reinforce each other. By cleverly combining geothermal, aerothermal and solar energy, a district of the future is being built that functions almost entirely carbon-free.

For C-energy, this project fits seamlessly into its mission to make the environment greener and more resilient. ‘This heating network is more than just a technical installation. It is a commitment to sustainability, reliability and affordable heating, supported by cooperation. We are building an energy ecosystem here that will grow with the neighbourhood for decades to come,’ says Van Hoye.

What is becoming a reality here in Kirchberg today will be the model for urban energy networks throughout Europe tomorrow.

A carbon-neutral future for everyone

The project in Kirchberg is not just any heating network, but a blueprint for how C-energy and its partners view energy: integrated, sustainable and focused on the long term. Because energy transition is not a distant ambition, but something we are achieving today through cooperation, expertise and shared responsibility.

Discover more about the vision behind this neighbourhood at the Kirchberg Fund on their LinkedIn-page and follow C-energy for updates on even more sustainable heating projects at home and abroad.

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