Claudia De Clercq -

Energy as a service

If we want to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050, we must urgently address our buildings. They are the main source of CO2 emissions, according to Jeroen Rabaey. With his partner Menno Janssens, he makes (old) residential buildings more energy efficient. Like the iconic Brusilia tower in Schaerbeek, designed in 1967. 

“To make energy production more sustainable in apartment buildings, we need to collaborate with dozens of owners,” explains Jeroen Rabaey. “Step by step, we work on solutions to transform the collective heating system, which often still runs on natural gas or even heating oil. This is only possible if we can convince the end-users that they will benefit from it.”

Worry-free energy  

In Brussels, Noven has concluded long-term contracts with about 40 property owners' associations to finance access to sustainable energy, redesign boiler rooms, and install cogeneration units, heat pumps, solar panels, and charging stations in existing buildings. 

“Thanks to an online platform, we monitor everything continuously and can immediately adjust if needed. We use the collected data to monitor consumption even more optimally and make changes to improve sustainability. As a result, end-users save on their energy bills and can rely on sustainable energy, even in an old building.”

Heat from sewers 

Noven has been going for almost ten years and is also a partner for new construction projects. The Suikerpark in Veurne, a prestigious project co-financed by BNP Paribas Fortis, is a prime example. “We built the first heat network in Flanders, entirely powered by industrial residual heat. We heat the entire residential area with the steam from the nearby PepsiCo potato chip factory.”

Another exciting project is the Boerentoren in Antwerp, for which Noven developed a case study on “riothermie”. “If we extract heat from wastewater, we can reduce the primary energy factor by 45%.”

Residual heat projects are exceptional in our country. “You need to have a long-term industrial partner, and that partner must be close to homes. That's why we usually opt for underground heat networks. A heat pump extracts heat from the soil and provides residents with hot water, heating, and – just as important – cooling.”

Sustainability partners 

BNP Paribas Fortis has already financed various Noven projects. “The bank has always had a lot of confidence in what we do: what we have been able to achieve is largely due to this confidence – without meaning to be too emotional!” smiles the co-CEO. “I notice that we are important to BNP Paribas Fortis because we contribute to their sustainable ambitions. We reinforce each other.”