Thanks to the Minewater project of the municipality of Heerlen, a low-temperature district heating system was launched in October 2008, In the recent years, the projects Minewater 2 and 3 further enhanced the system performance In Heerlen, long before the Climate Agreement, the municipality had literally started drilling for sustainable energy, namely the energy in the geothermal wells beneath its feet. The former mine corridors, the basis of what is now an innovative circular energy network, contain hot water. This low-temperature source, which provides heat but also coolness to homes, offices, shops and industrial companies, also uses residual heat from the surrounding area and, when there is less demand, ensures that residual energy is stored in existing underground corridors or power plants with buffer vessels. Thanks to innovation, the network can now also be seen separately from the underground mine corridors, by placing prefabricated (eco) barrels in the ground, where there are no mines. The circle of (water) energy is complete (everywhere)!

• Community-based initiative (i.e. citizens, cooperative, neighbourhood group)
• For-profit company
• Local government

• upplier of sustainable energy, supplies heat and coolness to offices, commercial buildings and homes