New heat network will help decarbonise Brussels

Brussels already has a heat network spreading over 6 km that supplies key sites such as the Greenhouses at Laeken, the Docks shopping centre and the Royal Palace. With this 3.7-km extension, over 30 buildings will soon be connected.

The network will be used to heat schools, crèches, rest homes, social housing and the swimming pool in Neder-Over-Hembeek. It's the ideal sustainable solution to heat a lot of the infrastructure that serves the district's residents.

How will the work be carried out?

The existing heat network will be extended from the Royal Greenhouses to Rue de l'Ancre. The work will be completed in 2 stages:

• The first main project will run from june 2025 and march 2026, mainly in the area surrounding Avenue de Versailles.
• The second part will be carried out from early 2026 to January 2027, running from Avenue de Versailles to the Canal de Willebroek.

What impact on local residents?

Unlike electric cables or gas pipelines, which are usually laid underneath the pavement, the considerable size of the pipes needed for a heat network mean they must be placed under the road.

This means that one of the traffic lanes must be completely dug up in order to install them, which can cause temporary disruption. However, we will do everything we can to limit the inconvenience and ensure deadlines are met.

• Houses remain accessible to pedestrians.
• Garages located on the side of the open public road are not accessible.
• Traffic is disrupted during working hours (7:00 AM – 5:00 PM), with the possibility of alternating traffic flow.
• Waste collection is continued, potentially with some temporary amendments.
• Parking is prohibited in the working areas.

These rules may vary depending on the specific features of each area.

Where is the work up to?

The work was started in mid-June on Avenue de l'Amarante, and is currently continuing on Avenue de Versailles as far as the École maternelle des Pagodes. The aim is to complete this phase of the work during the school holidays to ensure access is open again once children are back at school.

Behind the scenes of this exceptional project

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing work with this captivating report by BX1. Mehdi Bouhlal and Adel Lassouli from Bruxelles-Énergie, and Nikolaas Bogaerts from Sibelga share their vision and the next steps for this local initiative.

One step closer to zero carbon

Decarbonising heating is essential for achieving the climate objectives set by the Region. By making use of energy that is already available locally, this heat network demonstrates our commitment to achieving a carbon-free future in Brussels.