Belgium – ExxonMobil and Fluvius are taking an additional step in the potential cooperation for the future heat grid in Antwerp. The two parties recently signed a Memorandum in which ExxonMobil expresses its intention to negotiate exclusively with Fluvius for the possible supply of available residual heat from their facilities.
The residual heat will be used in the city-wide heat network to provide heating to several neighborhoods in Antwerp (het Eilandje, Kaaien and Centrum). This measure was proposed in the City of Antwerp’s Roadmap 2030. The next step is to work out an agreement in principle, which is planned for 2025.
Several partners in the port of Antwerp are working together on the realization of a heat network. This will initially involve heat exchange for industry. The second step is a residential heat network. In March the Warmtenet Antwerpen Noord became operational. This new pipeline route in the port of Antwerp allows Indaver Antwerp to supply residual heat to Boortmalt to produce malt.
The network is the first ‘open access’ heat network in Belgium, which can be used by different suppliers and customers. The pipeline network runs, among other things, along the sites of the so-called “Next-Gen District. Port of Antwerp-Bruges will cluster companies active in the circular economy on this site. These companies can then in turn supply or take additional residual heat from the network.
In the coming years, Fluvius will construct the residential grid. The construction of this grid will provide district heat to two neighborhoods in the North of Antwerp. If the full capacity of the heat network is utilized, it will reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tons per year.
