Dijlemolens Residential Complex in Leuven Now Heated by River Water
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The Dijlemolens residential complex in Leuven now heats its building using aquathermal energy drawn from the river Dijle. It is the first installation of its kind in Belgium and serves as a flagship project for a climate-neutral Leuven.
A first for Belgium
The Dijlemolens residential complex in Leuven has switched to aquathermal energy for its central heating. Water is pumped from the river Dijle and brought to the required temperature via a heat pump to heat the building. This marks the first installation of its kind in Belgium, making the project an important reference point for the wider rollout of aquathermal energy in the country.
An environmentally conscious choice by residents
The complex's owners' association deliberately chose this approach. The building had already been thoroughly insulated during an earlier renovation, and when it came time to replace the heating installation, the preference was for an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Thanks to aquathermal energy, the complex can save 42% in CO₂ emissions annually.
The project received guidance as well as financial and logistical support from the city of Leuven and the Flemish government, with technical expertise provided by EXTRAQT and IFTech.
A step towards a climate-neutral Leuven
For the city of Leuven, the project fits within its ambition to become climate-neutral. More than half of Leuven's CO₂ emissions come from buildings, largely due to heating with fossil fuels. Projects like this demonstrate a feasible way for buildings to switch to sustainable heat, and can serve as an example for other residential complexes and buildings in the city and beyond.
Source: VRT NWS – Residents of Dijlemolens in Leuven now get their heat from the water of the Dijle
