In 1863, in the middle of the industrial revolution, construction of the railway Central Workshops ofstarted on the East side of Leuven station, in Kessel-Lo. In 1920, Hall 9 was added to the site. Now, a hundred years later, the city is planning a sustainable renovation of the hall, energy-neutral if possible. The city is also investigating whether the hall might help supply energy to a future heat network for the surrounding neighbourhoods.
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Who takes part?
Who are all the partners in the project?
Role of Leuven 2030?
In this breakthrough project we assume the following role(s):
Place in the Roadmap?
This breakthrough project is part of the following programmes of the Roadmap:
How does it work?
Renovating historic buildings in a sustainable way is a complex task, but essential for the energy transition. For Hall 9, on the corner of Karel Schurmansstraat and Werkhuizenstraat, the City of Leuven is investigating which energy techniques will generate optimal energy returns, and is thoroughly mapping out the EPB regulations and architectural limitations. The renovated building will include a youth centre for minus-12-year-olds, as well as the offices of the youth service.
In the future, Hall 9 may also provide green heat to the surrounding neighbourhood. For this purpose, the city will already maximise the planned BEO field underneath the hall, so that the building could eventually not only heat and cool itself, but also contribute to and balance out a heat network for the surrounding area. Which energy source will power that heat grid, who will buy the heat, and how the heat grid will be built, is still being explored.
For example, a heat exchange system can recover heat from a nearby Aquafin collector, which currently holds the wastewater of some 8,000 local residents. By cleverly combining techniques, we may be able to generate enough heat and cooling for Hall 9 itself, for 80 to 120 nearby homes and for Hall 4 and Hall 5. The city administration is looking for innovative solutions for the challenges surrounding financing and operating the heat network.
The solar panel installation on the roof of Hall 9 will also be made larger than what the hall itself needs in green power, so that the electricity can be shared with nearby buildings or other city-owned buildings.
Asbestos removal
Modified design for refurbishment into youth and children's centre
Preliminary plans are ready
Start of the final design
Start of the first restoration works
Submission of environmental permit for redesignation and master plan update
Asbestos removal
Modified design for refurbishment into youth and children's centre
Preliminary plans are ready
Start of the final design
Start of the first restoration works
Submission of environmental permit for redesignation and master plan update
Why is this project important?
274,540 tonnes of CO2 : the direct emissions of all Leuven buildings account for as much as 60% of all direct emissions on Leuven territory in 2019. The largest share of these emissions comes from heating, which is in most cases still produced by fossil fuels. Making Leuven climate-neutral cannot be done without a structural change in how we heat our buildings, both residential and non-residential. This change will benefit climate, and also protect us from price fluctuations on capricious international energy markets, so long as we locally produce our renewable energy wherever possible.
Leuven has specific challenges, so tailor made solutions might prove the norm rather than the exception. But there are opportunities too: Leuven is growing and never ceases to innovate. The many urban renewal projects are an important lever for ambitious energy projects and innovative energy solutions that can be scaled up to the rest of the neighbourhood and the city.
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The path of the past couple of months