In addition, the Government will make substantial use of the potential of waste heat from industry, sewage treatment plants, etc… This recovery could supply heating networks as well as producing energy for both existing and future projects.

Similarly, the Government will promote geothermal energy for heating buildings and will analyse the measures to be taken to facilitate its adaptation while guaranteeing the protection of groundwater.

The Government will promote the extension of district heating networks and individual connections and will study the creation of a national company for the ownership and construction of district heating networks, in compliance with competition law.

The Government will support the use of alternative heat sources. To this end, the Government will promote the establishment of a ‘heat’ register, the development of heat networks and connections to these networks, and will analyse the advisability of creating a national company for the management and establishment of heat networks, in compliance with competition law.

Within the Ministry of Economy and Energy, one person has been appointed to work on heat planning, and a second position has been advertised. Initial steps have been taken to identify alternative heat sources (deep geothermal energy, waste heat from industrial processes and wastewater) and to compile relevant data. There are also positive developments, particularly regarding the energy supply of new projects on former industrial sites. However, concrete measures are still lacking to advance heat planning nationwide and especially for existing buildings. This is particularly true for the establishment of a legal framework that would enable such planning. Therefore, while the first steps have been taken, they do not yet cover all areas mentioned in the coalition agreement. In this context, the Mecoskop indicates that implementation has progressed somewhat, even if in practice very little is yet “felt”.