Techlink Award for Aquathermal Project at Kasteel de Merode

From natural gas to a sustainable alternative

Kasteel de Merode, a 14th-century building in Westerlo, was previously heated with natural gas through a combination of gas boilers and a combined heat and power plant, distributed via a network of mostly cast-iron radiators. Sharply rising gas prices meant that energy costs would increase dramatically once the existing contract expired. This prompted the site's owners to turn to Eco-Technix in search of a more affordable and sustainable solution.

A bivalent system with the moat as heat source

Rotselaar-based company Eco-Technix opted for a bivalent heating system: a combination of a heat pump and combined heat and power, with a gas boiler as backup. A distinctive feature of the project is the use of aquathermal energy, which extracts heating and cooling from surface water. In this case, the castle's moat serves as the main energy source: in summer, heat is stored in the water, which is then extracted during the middle of the season and in winter.

Collaboration with EXTRAQT

For the aquathermal component, Eco-Technix worked together with EXTRAQT, a young company specialised in aquathermal energy. Eco-Technix itself has been active in renewable energy, particularly heat pumps, for more than ten years, and believed in the overall concept of the project from the start. Despite thorough preparation, the execution phase brought some unforeseen technical challenges. Now operational for its first months, the installation is already showing encouraging results.

Recognised with a Techlink Award

The project was awarded a Techlink Award, recognising innovative and leading applications within the installation sector. Kasteel de Merode shows how even historic buildings with a challenging heating profile can achieve a sustainable and cost-efficient heating solution through aquathermal energy.

Source: Techlink – Techlink Awards: Eco-Technix & Kasteel de Merode

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