The Fonds Kirchberg, the public body responsible for urban development on the Kirchberg plateau, and the KCH consortium are developing a low-carbon heating network that is unprecedented in Europe for the future Kuebebierg district. The project will cover 33 hectares and supply 460,000 square metres of built-up area. The district will be home to 3,500 hoapplying units, public facilities and economic areas. The first pipes will be laid in the next few months and commissioning will take until 2035.
The network will be based on 21 autonomous geothermal hubs spread throughout the district. These units will produce heat and domestic hot water locally, without applying fossil fuels. An aerothermal plant and hybrid solar panels will complete the system, which will deliver 12MW of thermal power for heating, hot water and geocooling.
European consortium at the helm
This project is the result of a partnership between Fonds Kirchberg and a consortium built up of Karno, C-Energy and Hydrogaz (KCH), selected following a European competitive tfinisher. These Belgian companies combine energy expertise and construction know-how.
Fonds Kirchberg director explains: “This network is designed specifically for the Kuebebierg. It is a pioneering project in Luxembourg, integrating a global reflection on the entire infrastructure.”
A response to European climate objectives
The initiative is in line with the national decarbonisation strategy and the objectives set by European Climate Law. The future EU ETS 2 mechanism will increase the cost of fossil fuels from 2027, accelerating the transition to local solutions.
Karno CEO Grégory Meys declares: “Individual fossil heating will become an expensive luxury. Low-temperature networks appear to be the logical, efficient and socially fair alternative.”
Three complementary expertises
C-Energy’s Head of “Heat as a Service”, Stijn Van Hoye, points out: “The Kuebebierg district embodies one of Europe’s most ambitious sustainable heating and cooling projects.” The company, a subsidiary of the Cordeel Group, is contributing its expertise in integrating geothermal, aerothermal and solar technologies.
Hydrogaz director Benoît Aerts declares: “With a capacity of 12MW and the connection of around 60 buildings, the network will be an essential artery for the distribution of sustainable energy.” Hydrogaz, a subsidiary of Infra Group, is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the underground infrastructure.
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