Heat Alliance launches Heat Offer supported by ESNL: Breakthrough for stagnation in heat grid development
The Heat Alliance, a collaboration of more than a hundred municipalities, heat companies, umbrella organizations and local initiatives, presented its ambitious Warmtebod to Minister Hermans on January 14. This initiative should give a powerful impetus to the stalled development of heat networks in the Netherlands.
The Warmtebod outlines a plan to connect more than half a million households to a collective heat grid within a decade. This will pave the way to supply 30% of existing homes with sustainable heat by 2050. According to the Heat Alliance, this is a crucial step to decongest the energy system and provide affordable heat to households, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Urgency and cooperation
Teun Bokhoven, outgoing chairman of the Implementation Consultation on Climate Policy Built Environment, emphasizes the need for action: "Without concrete steps, high social costs are at risk and the energy transition is jeopardized. This Warmtebod offers the tools to break through stagnation and restore confidence."
In recent months, the Heat Alliance, with support from the National Local Heat Program, VNG, IPO and the Consumers' Association, among others, has been identifying the causes of the stagnation. Important bottlenecks are the high costs for end users and a fragmented subsidy policy.
Proposals from the Heat Bid
The Heat Bid includes concrete measures, such as:
- Reduction of end-user costs through price guarantees and revision of fixed-rate distribution.
- An integrated subsidy framework for heat sources, infrastructure and housing.
- Greater transparency in cost structure and better access to funding.
It also calls for a separate grant for large-scale heat pipelines and a simplified application process for neighborhood-level projects.
Wide support
More than 50 municipalities have already indicated their willingness to connect thousands of homes to heat grids, provided the cost to end users drops. Heat communities also expect to achieve 25,000 connections by 2030 with new support measures.
Kees Vendrik, chairman of the National Climate Platform: "With this bid, we can not only smooth the heat transition, but also provide a sustainable and affordable heat supply for the future."
Participate?
Organizations and municipalities can still join the Warmtebod until the end of January. Collaboration and broad support are essential to realize this transition.
View the full Heat offer here and register your organization as a signatory through this link.
Source: nationalclimateplatform.com
