First regionally, then nationally
Not only do we we have to reduce emissions, we also have to significantly increase the share of renewable sources in the European energy mix. The EU’s target is for renewable energy to account for as much as 32 % of the energy supply by 2030. The EU also hopes to reduce energy consumption significantly, by over 30 % compared with a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario. Member States must have completed their ‘homework’ by the end of this year, when the European Commission expects every national government to have produced a (preliminary) plan on how it intends to achieve the targets. Due to the division of powers in Belgium, this means that plans will need to have been drawn up at a regional level first.
Various policy and advisory bodies of the Flemish government have been using the services of VITO/EnergyVille for years to provide support on energy and climate policy. Researchers at VITO/EnergyVille have provided input for a blueprint of the Flemish Energy and Climate Plan 2030 for the Departments of the Environment (Minister Schauvliege) and Energy (Minister Tommelein), as well as for the Flemish Energy Agency. VITO/EnergyVille has also been involved in producing the section on the energy system for the Milieuverkenning Vlaanderen [Flanders exploratory environmental study] (MIRA) report, which will be published in the next issue of VISION. This will describe realistic solutions, barriers and ‘levers’ for each sector in Flanders, this time with a horizon of 2050.
The built environment
It is not surprising that some of the same elements feature in both reports. VITO/EnergyVille states that we need to focus on both energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in order to make the energy supply in the building industry more sustainable. This means that Flanders needs to switch up a few gears when it comes to renovating its existing building stock, and heat plays a crucial role in this. According to the researchers, we must aim to produce lower-temperature heat derived from renewable sources. This could take the form of heat networks (fourth generation, supplied by residual heat or sustainable heat via biomass burning or geothermal energy), heat pumps (also known as the all-electric option), or heating and cooling of individual buildings using biomass or green gas. Since the degree of renovation depends heavily on the investment choices of individual citizens, and is therefore difficult to control, heat networks (90-degree heat) offer an alternative route to achieving sustainability more quickly. After all, these heat networks can be easily converted into fourth generation networks, since the basic infrastructure is more or less the same.
Local perspective
The precise extent to which work is required to increase energy efficiency (by renovating and insulating), and the extent to which the energy supply must or can be made more sustainable depends strongly on the local situation. Due to the high building density, cities are the perfect location to lay heat networks, but this requires investments, so a high connection rate per running metre is a necessary requirement. For this reason, it is important that multiple sources can be integrated into fourth-generation heat networks. This creates sustainable back-up systems and provides a higher level of reliability. For example, residual heat from a CHP plant could be combined with geothermal energy or heat derived from biomass. One example by way of illustration is the Port of Antwerp, which generates more residual heat than necessary for supplying the city of Antwerp. In less built-up areas, heat pumps may be more appropriate than a heat network, on condition that they can run on electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind and biomass.
Not only does VITO/EnergyVille provide support and advice to policy makers, but it also develops tools for authorities (especially local authorities) to take action. Provincial, city and municipal authorities traditionally have the best overview of the state of building stock and infrastructure on their territories, and obviously they are involved in determining the agenda for public works. They are also the most aware of public needs, as has always been the case. VITO/EnergyVille holds the view that the municipality therefore has an important role to play as a facilitator of the energy transition on a local scale. There are numerous examples of how that role can be performed, from planning for the combined laying of a cycle path and a heat network, to inviting local research partners and companies to join the discussion.
Local authorities lack certain expertise and know-how when it comes to heat (heat networks, geothermal energy and residual heat). The tools provided by VITO/EnergyVille can help visualise complex processes, for example by identifying hotspots with high levels of residual heat, or by illustrating how a local authority can draw up an ‘energy inventory’. One of the most ambitious tools is undoubtedly the Urban Energy Pathfinder, which assists authorities with developing their energy planning.
Plentiful renewable energy
When it comes to energy supply, VITO/EnergyVille believes that improving sustainability will result in intensive electrification of various sectors, namely transport (electric vehicles), buildings (heat pumps), and industry. The application of the European scenarios to the situation in Flanders, and the assumption that our region will cease to import green energy in due course, suggest that Flanders will produce between 62 and 85 TWh per year of renewable electricity by 2050 - representing 80 to 97 % of the total power generation. This target is ambitious, but achievable, primarily because important technological breakthroughs have already been made and parties in the region are working intensively on other necessary technological innovations (such as battery technology). In short, the most important thing now is to create a large market for existing renewable technologies. Obviously, the transport and building sectors are not the only ones we need to make more sustainable; the same can be said of non-ETS industry and small businesses. It must be pointed out that Flemish industry still has some ground to make up, both when compared with other countries and other sectors in Flanders (such as agriculture). We are still waiting for the sector to provide a specific roadmap with a 2050 horizon. Researchers point to the Netherlands, where industry itself is taking control and developing ambitious plans.
In tomorrow’s energy system, supply (production) and demand (consumption) must also match seamlessly. In the view of VITO/EnergyVille, the storage of electricity in batteries will become an important enabler in promoting the integration of renewable energy sources and limiting the impact on the existing electricity grid. VITO/EnergyVille also holds the extensive expertise and tools to do this. For example, the Battery Total Cost of Ownership tool estimates the cost-effectiveness of electrical storage quickly and in detail. VITO/EnergyVille also has an extensive tool set for estimating the value of investments in flexibility (such as the Renovation Business Modelling Tool and Proflex).
Conversion between different forms of energy (electricity, heat, cold, gas and chemicals) also features in the VITO/ EnergyVille researchers’ future vision.
Intensive electrification
Flanders, Brussels and the Netherlands have seen further investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternative fuels for transport. The attention here has been devoted to several categories of fuels, such as charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, taxis and buses, but also for CNG and LNG infrastructure, hydrogen filling stations, and shore-side electricity for inland shipping.
In view of the continued electrification of road transport, VITO/EnergyVille is conducting research into technologies and strategies to enable the mass introduction of electric vehicles, and smart charging forms one of its core elements. After all, with a large concentration of electric vehicles, it is not possible to charge all built-in batteries at the same time – this would create unprecedented peaks in electricity consumption. Therefore, it is essential that the charging process is managed effectively in order to reduce the impact on the electricity grid. However, smart charging also reduces the cost of charging, and the share of renewable energy is increased. Companies could set up their own ‘mobile battery’, so to speak, in the form of an electric commercial vehicle fleet. They could be charged using power derived from solar panels on the roof of company buildings or from wind turbines on the company’s site. A number of projects are also investigating the possibility of returning the battery power to the grid when the vehicles are not in use, so that it can be used at peak times. Even so, all these forms of smart charging still leave open the issue of mobility demand among end-users. In order to educate parties about smart charging and to facilitate collaboration between (market) parties, VITO/EnergyVille set up the Vlaams Kennisplatform Slim Laden [Flemish smart charging knowledge platform] in collaboration with The New Drive and VOLTA.
Let us be clear: the energy transition to a low-carbon economy and society presents us with challenges in several areas: technological, regulatory and social. These challenges cannot be solved in isolation; they require a systemic approach. VITO/EnergyVille combines its expertise with technological developments to facilitate energy transition at a local, national and European level, and to support industry and authorities in making the transition to a low-carbon future.
