WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2026-05-13

Description

Description (EN):

Heating and cooling (HC) are responsible for half of the EU’s final energy consumption and most of it is based on fossil fuels (Eurostat, 2020). Hence, a shift towards renewable energy sources (RES) presents a great opportunity to reduce the EU’s energy requirements, carbon emissions, pollution, reliance on energy imports, and to increase the efficiency of energy and material usage. The WaterWarmth consortium is ambitious and equipped to seize this opportunity and highly motivated to create a lasting impact in the North Sea Region (NSR). Aquathermal energy (AE) uses thermal energy from water to provide sustainable H/C for buildings. Surface waters act as a huge solar collector and store heat in quantities that exceed by far the energy requirements for H/C. At present, the vast majority of people and energy communities (ECs) are unaware of this omnipresent and readily available energy source. WaterWarmth will change this. The local nature of AE and other RES enables ECs to take ownership of energy production and delivery in cooperative H/C systems, thereby stimulating local economic activities, keeping profits in the region, and enabling a socially just and inclusive energy transition. Cooperative H/C requires the presence of a H/C grid. Costs of change from gas infrastructure are high and, historically, another barrier is low-costs of fossil fuels. Additional challenges remain around: citizen participation, integration of AE in the energy system and the current built environment, environmental impact, legal and governance, business cases, and securing project (development) funds and bearing risks by ECs. WaterWarmth addresses all these key aspects in one coherent project. It works on facilitating ECs that are delivering the energy transition, and co-develop inspiring and replicable examples of cooperative AE solutions, integrated into the local context, with citizens from across the NSR. Deliverables will empower ECs to accelerate the dearly needed energy transition.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During this project period the overall project achieved the following: Progress achieved:During this reporting period, strong progress was made across technical, scientific, and communication activities. The Quickscan tool (WP1) reached version 1.0, with preparations for version 2.0 ongoing. Partners improved algorithms linking water body potential to heat demand, supporting large-scale AE mapping. Pilot development advanced: permits were granted, tenders completed, and installations prepared in Middelfart, Howest, and Ouistreham. ESIGELEC and ULHN enhanced AE simulation and control models, validated through real data, and prepared multiple scientific publications. Mechelen and Kortrijk progressed in integrating AE into heat zoning and governance frameworks. WP6 partners (UTwente, Lund University) finalized key reports on innovation, governance, and barriers, and hosted workshops and webinars. Communication partners (EHPA, DBDH) increased project visibility at EU events, published articles and podcasts, and promoted knowledge exchange. Delays:Some partners faced procurement and permitting delays (e.g. Kortrijk’s tender preparation, Delft’s first tender round, and BUILDERS’ budget revision for Ouistreham). The recruitment of a ULHN postdoc was delayed due to visa issues, requiring a new call. Economic modelling (WP5) required extended coordination to align data processing and algorithms. Balancing spatial, ecological, and financial factors slowed decision-making for large-scale urban integration. Despite these challenges, mitigation actions—new tenders, revised technical designs, and strengthened collaboration—helped maintain overall project momentum. Outreach: We continued working on the knowledge and network exchange with AquaCOM and resNRJwater, also we made contact with a German AE project, doing similar things on a national level. We also agreed with the projects to collaborate on events/webinars we host, meaning that we'll contribute on the programs of those.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/waterwarmth

Thematic information

Renewable energy

Type of intervention: 038 Energy efficiency and demonstration projects in SMEs and supporting measures

Partners (24)

Lead Partner: Provincie Fryslân

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001032823B02

Address: Tweebaksmarkt 52, 8911KZ Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.fryslan.frl

Total budget: EUR 967 169.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 580 301.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 386 868.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Technische Universiteit Delft - Faculteit Bouwkunde

Name: Technische Universiteit Delft - Faculteit Bouwkunde

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001181650542

Address: Julianalaan 134, 2628BL Delft, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tudelft.nl/bk/

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Technische Universiteit Delft - Faculteit Techniek, Bestuur en Management

Name: Technische Universiteit Delft - Faculteit Techniek, Bestuur en Management

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001569569B01

Address: Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Hogeschool West Vlaanderen

Name: Hogeschool West Vlaanderen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: Graaf Karel De Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website (not verified): http://www.howest.be/energiemanagement

Total budget: EUR 323 694.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 194 216.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 129 478.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Universiteit Twente

Name: Universiteit Twente

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL002946725B01

Address: Drienerlolaan 5, 7522NB Enschede, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.utwente.nl/

Total budget: EUR 52 792.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 31 675.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 21 117.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Université le Havre Normandie

Name: Université le Havre Normandie

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: 75 rue Bellot, 76600 Le Havre, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.univ-lehavre.fr/

Total budget: EUR 490 040.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 294 024.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 196 016.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Technische Universiteit Delft

Name: Technische Universiteit Delft

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001569569B01

Address: Stevinweg 1, 2628CN Delft, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tudelft.nl

Total budget: EUR 709 518.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 425 711.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 283 807.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stad Mechelen

Name: Stad Mechelen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207499430

Address: Grote Markt 21, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.stadmechelen.be

Total budget: EUR 502 129.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 301 277.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 200 852.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stad Kortrijk

Name: Stad Kortrijk

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207494678

Address: Grote Markt 54, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.kortrijk.be

Total budget: EUR 452 735.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 271 641.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 181 094.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Middelfart Kommune

Name: Middelfart Kommune

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK29189684

Address: Nytorv 9, 5500 Middelfart, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.middelfart.dk

Total budget: EUR 599 636.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 359 782.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 239 854.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Lund University - Centre for Sustainability Studies

Name: Lund University - Centre for Sustainability Studies

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE202100321101

Address: Biskopsgatan 5, 22362 Lund, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.lucsus.lu.se/

Total budget: EUR 425 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 255 360.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 170 240.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut gemeinnützige GmbH

Name: Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut gemeinnützige GmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE241849425

Address: Oberhafenstraße 1, 20097 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.hwwi.org

Total budget: EUR 262 911.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 157 747.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 105 164.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Gemeente Leeuwarden

Name: Gemeente Leeuwarden

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL 0019.03.664.B01

Address: Oldehoofsterkerkhof 2, 8911DH Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.leeuwarden.nl

Total budget: EUR 649 484.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 389 690.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 259 794.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Gemeente De Fryske Marren

Name: Gemeente De Fryske Marren

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL823770151B01

Address: Herema State 1, 8501AA Joure, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.defryskemarren.nl

Total budget: EUR 420 036.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 252 022.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 168 014.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

EXTRAQT

Name: EXTRAQT

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0770.846.528

Address: Brusselsestraat 190/5, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.extraqt.be

Total budget: EUR 316 251.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 189 751.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 126 500.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

European Heat Pump Association AISBL

Name: European Heat Pump Association AISBL

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0599823551

Address: Rue d'Arlon 63 – 67, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.ehpa.org

Total budget: EUR 184 611.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 110 767.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 73 844.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

ESIGELEC Ecole d’Ingénieurs Généralistes

Name: ESIGELEC Ecole d’Ingénieurs Généralistes

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR82413701111

Address: Avenue Galilée, 76800 Saint-Etienne du Rouvray, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.esigelec.fr

Total budget: EUR 442 913.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 265 748.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 177 165.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Energent Coöperatieve Vennootschap

Name: Energent Coöperatieve Vennootschap

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0542998575

Address: Beverhoutplein 7, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://energent.be/

Total budget: EUR 440 705.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 264 423.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 176 282.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Danish Board of District Heating

Name: Danish Board of District Heating

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK85175912

Address: Stæhr Johansens Vej 38, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.dbdh.dk

Total budget: EUR 97 036.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 58 222.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 38 814.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

BUILDERS Ecole d ingenieurs

Name: BUILDERS Ecole d ingenieurs

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR23 403 162 688

Address: 1 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 14610 Caen, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website (not verified): https://www.esitc-caen.fr/en

Total budget: EUR 574 761.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 344 857.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 229 904.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Aalborg CSP

Name: Aalborg CSP

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK21142042

Address: Hjulmagervej 55, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.aalborgcsp.com

Total budget: EUR 45 325.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 27 195.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 18 130.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Warm Heeg BV

Name: Warm Heeg BV

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL862686143B01

Address: De Skatting 8, 8621BW Heeg, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.warmheeg.nl

Total budget: EUR 140 110.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 84 066.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 56 044.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Grieneko Coöp.UA

Name: Grieneko Coöp.UA

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL085519460B01

Address: Harmen Systrawei 25, 8834XE Baard, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://grieneko.frl

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Zorgbedrijf Rivierenland

Name: Zorgbedrijf Rivierenland

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BTW BE 0680 439 360

Address: Wilsonstraat 28, 2860 Sint-Katelijne Waver, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://www.zorgbedrijfrivierenland.be

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Howest - university of applied sciences

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

University of Twente

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

University of Le Havre Normandie

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Technische Universiteit Delft

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

stad Mechelen

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

City of Kortrijk

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Middelfart Municipality

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Lund University - Centre for Sustainability Studies

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Hamburg Institute of International Economics

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Leeuwarden

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Municipality De Fryske Marren

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

EXTRAQT

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

European Heat Pump Association AISBL

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

ESIGELEC School of General Engineers

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Energent CV

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Danish Board of District Heating

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Builders for Society - School of Civil Engineering

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Aalborg CSP

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Province of Fryslân

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Warm Heeg BV

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Grieneko Coöp.UA

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Care Institution Rivierenland

WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

Project acronym: WaterWarmth

Project ID: 0gE6yVb4Q

Project start date: 2023-06-15

Project end date: 2027-03-15

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 7 997 253.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 4 798 353.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 4 798 353.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Infrastructure investments:

N.a. - N.a. - EUR 0.00 - N.a.
N.a. - N.a. - EUR 0.00 - N.a.

Deliverables:

Develop methodology and models for AE potential calculation / Report with extensive description of a ready-to-use and verified methodology to determine local (project scale) and regional potential of AE in two steps: a quick scan for first approximate (to be used by a large audience) and an in-depth analysis that can be included in tech. and econ. feasibility studies for high potential projects. It will contain all considerations, assumptions, underlying theories, estimations and a detailed discussion on methodological aspects, sensitivity and errors.
Design of test locations / The design the demonstration locations in which testing and validating of the aquathermal energy potential and system integration will take place. Each site will target specific innovative objectives and is relevant to all partners involved. An economically and technically realistic design will be developed, where all components are sized to meet the site-specific requirements. As no standardised design procedure is available, design guidelines for future projects will be drafted.
Building a supporting community of practice around cooperative AE solutions / Forming a community of practice that can accelerate up-take and roll-out of large-scale collective AE systems by sharing insights. Sharing experiences of project development during 6 regional events. Organizing 15 consultation meetings and 3 home visit rounds, with citizens and local stakeholders. Foster project support, legitimacy and social acceptance for the large-scale developments in the project among citizens and authorities. Report experienced successes and hurdles to WP 6.
Data collection and verification, communication plan, dissemination to local actors / Setting up a communication approach for data collection (1 target) and specify the type of data that is required for: modelling work, building of virtual systems, and creating energy management systems and other tasks in WP 4. Connecting to local initiatives +organizing meetings to interact with local and regional stakeholders around selected pilot sites (in combination with external meetings organized under WP 1-3, no targets in WP 4). Disseminating results of WP4 to local actors through WP1-3.
Assess the market and determine the regional-economic potential of AE / A market analysis that will consider the current energy market and upcoming / future technologies competing in this market. It will show under what circumstances AE systems can be cost-efficiently, and which technology competitors are there. The study will also contain an assessment of energetic, technical and economic potential of AE systems (in cooperation with WP1). Workshops will be organised among project partners to discuss the analysis results.
Framework and typology to analyse governance of current AE and other relevant heating systems / Conduct a literature study of relevant theoretical and analytical frameworks available to analyse the governance of current heating systems and future energy system innovation, in particular with regard to AE systems. Based on this analysis a typology of governance arrangements of AE and related (coupled) heat systems will be developed for future research and governance assessment necessary to gain knowledge for developing supportive governance arrangement and formulate related policy.
Quick scan of AE potential locations / pilots / Apply the Quick-Scan tool (ACT 1.1) to ~30 project locations within the NSR. Use practical cases to fine-tune the tool, and make a selection of 12 most interesting cases for further in-depth research (Act 1.3). The Quick Scan is a decision tree for smart selection of AE projects. Based on this action the methodology is evaluated on the technical and legal framework of the member states of the NSR. This action is used as validation of the method. Produce 1 report encompassing all case studies.
Building and commissioning of pilots on aquathermal energy / We will realize 4-6 pilot sites that show the application of AE systems in a variety of settings and environments and in which a variety of key aspects are further developed and tested by a diverse group of international and regional stakeholders in a joint research programme. Each pilot site after implementation will need to track the data over time to validate the innovations and compare them to each other.
Communication actions to increase local project visibility and support / Writing a WP3 communication plan. Activities (developing publications, media content, organising local events…) will vary per development, depending on the local community structure and communication needs. 12 communication rounds in which a specific message is conveyed will be organised to provide insight to a broad audience on the opportunities for cooperative, collective smart and integrated AE solutions and to increase the citizens participation grade in such initiatives throughout the NSR.
Definition of system configuration (power circuit & controllers) / Choosing energy sources according to the energy potential of the sites. Defining converter structures according to the load and sources requirements (input data). Power circuit optimal sizing based renewable energies sources production and the consumer requirement. Choosing controller structures based dynamic performances required for the microgrid. Comparative study of the potential solutions of the converters topologies and the controllers to find a best configuration of the microgrid.
AE's contribution to energy security and energy independence systems; comparison of decentralized and centralized energy provision / Evaluate AE's potential contribution to energy security and long-term energy independence (1). This will contain an analysis of the economies of scale to determine where collective decentralised AE systems, based on local renewables, have economic benefits over individual applications, relying on central energy provision and energy imports. Draft policy recommendations (1).
Analysis of governance of current AE and other relevant heating systems by regional stakeholders / Assessment report on governance structures of locally owned heating and cooling systems. Collect empirical and theoretical insights from project partners, cases from affiliated project partners as well as via expert interviews and a desk study. A data analysis will be conducted with attention to heat infrastructure, heat delivery services, relevant institutions, organizational structure: roles, ownership, authority, responsibilities, business models, regulatory framework, policy mixes.
Technical feasibility study of AE high potential locations / pilots / Technical feasibility analyses on the energetics of the water body and the technical concepts for extracting the heat of 12 promising cases in the NSR. The result provides one or more feasible concepts that can be included in WP5 for an economic analysis. For this analysis, digital twins of the different water bodies will be developed, in which detailed simulations can be carried out. The synergy possibilities of aquathermal energy with other renewable energy sources are also examined.
Detailed research plan and execution / An R&D plan involving all thermal, electrical and structural aspects on the pilot sites will be developed that ensures high quality comprehensive research. In addition to the technical data, feedback will be obtained from the users of the aquathermal system. The data collected on all pilot sites will be analysed and cross-referenced in order to understand the functioning in detail. The execution of this research plan will contribute to improving the efficiency and scalability of AE systems.
Technical feasibility, system design and environmental assessment / Create 4 technical feasibility studies (1 per large-scale development location) that comprise the technical system design and engineering and exploring the heat grid market. Including a preliminary assessment of impact on ecology and the built environment, and evaluation of the building stock and the changes required on buildings to increase efficiency and compatibility with highly efficient AE systems. Also containing an analysis and perspective for system integration (from WP 4).
Modelling tool for decentralized energy systems including AE aspects with and without energy storage / Developing a modelling tool to configure microgrids with AE and energy storage aspects. Including representative behavioural models of defined sub-systems. It can be used for numerical simulations based on data collected from practice. The model will provide insight in the potential to use local renewable energy fluxes (solar, wind, etc.) in the most efficient manner and in the sizing of energy assets and infrastructure required to fulfil (future) energy demands, and thus project feasibility.
Regulatory constraints and other barriers limiting the large scale uptake of AE systems / An analysis will be made to identify, describe, assess and classify (potential) barriers hindering AE innovation (i.e. to scale). Barriers relate to the socio-technical regime, technology and infrastructure, industry, resource mobilisation, legitimation, culture, (sectoral) policy and regulatory issues evolving in the context of AE, market user preferences, and science/knowledge development. Workshops on identifying obstacles and solutions / recommendations are organised under WP 6.
Mapping opportunities and barriers to governing niche development and scaling of AE systems / Creating a guideline on governing AE based niche development. Mapping of enabling policy, opportunities that support governance of AE systems and can play a role in up-scaling and out-scaling of AE systems and practices. This also applies to barriers and challenges to governing niche development of AE systems with regional stakeholders. Insights will be developed into how to resolve these barriers. Results in the final analysis report will be validated by a workshop for project partners.
Project stakeholder involvement in WP 1 / Connect to the local project stakeholder’s trough wp2, wp3 and the additional quick scan study areas / cases provided by project partners. Write clear instructions on data to be provided for WP1. Organizing a digital meeting for all test cases to provide instructions. Communicate the estimated potential to energy coops and regions involved through a concise report, made under activity 1.2, to which a bilateral explanation will be provided to ensure proper transfer of results to the region.
Report on quick energetic wins in heating and cooling systems / A report containing readily available solutions that can be taken up by energy communities, local governments, and companies in currently existing heat grids to realize low-cost quick energetic profits throughout the NSR.
Financial feasibility, economic impact, financing strategy and market consultation / Description: Create 4 financial feasibility studies (1 per large-scale development location) that comprise economic aspects, and an Investigation on financing options for project development and project execution. Reports will include a market consultation and a final business case. During this activity there will be collaboration with the partners under WP5, in which a more general approach is taken on economic impact.
Control system for decentralized energy systems including AE aspects with and without energy storage / Designing a control system for microgrids with AE and energy storage aspects. This controller will allow a project developer / engineer to control smart energy assets for production, storage and consumption and to execute a desired energy management strategy fulfilling the needs for energy cooperations in an optimized way. The controller will include multiple sub-systems control strategies based on historic or actual data and predictive control.
Determine and discuss impact of AE on landscape and environment / Assessment of the environmental and spatial impact related to different energy sources considering aspects such as the specific technology used, geographic location and energy system in place. Elaborate the impact of AE on the future energy systems and discuss how integration of AE can be used to avoid or minimize environmental footprint thereof. The key findings will be fed into the policy recommendations within WP6.
Designing a vision, strategy and policy program to support niche development of AE systems / Designing a vision, strategy, transition pathways and policy program to support niche development of AE systems with regional stakeholders. This involves co-design with a local/regional public authority stakeholder involved in a dedicated pilot. The co-designed output will be subjected to a validation session. A report with an overview of the activity results, placed in context of participating authorities, will be produced for dissemination and facilitate uptake of solutions.
Creating a GIS application and provide training sessions, video lectures and publications / Make 1 webpage with instructions for tools and methods and develop 1 GIS application to display AE potential. An application training will be made and advertising materials created for 10 training sessions for partners, stakeholders and other interested parties throughout the NSR. Advertisements will be distributed to the partner’s broad network. Drafting of educational information, making and publish 3 video lectures for students and professionals and 2 technical / scientific publications.
Organizing on site events to share results and exchange insights / Organizing 6 on site events to share pilot results and engage with regional stakeholders, contractors and engineers to facilitate transfer of project innovations to energy communities and the installation and engineering sector. Exchange insights with local actors and collect feedback to understand and keep in touch with needs from practice. Stakeholders will be invited from the consortiums network in the pilot site’s region and by contacting regional branch organizations.
Legal feasibility and organizational model / Investigations on organization, cooperation, models, roles and responsibilities for authorities, cooperatives and companies involved in the 4 large-scale developments in the WaterWarmth projects. Reports including legal aspects, state-aid issues, market procedures and legal aspects of (semi-) cooperative heating companies. Close cooperation with WP5 and WP6.
Smart microgrid energy management / Capitalizing the outcomes from data collection, microgrid configuration definition, system modelling and control activities. It will propose an appropriate systemic approach for optimal microgrid energy management based multiple operating scenarios of the full system using On-line & Off-line simulations. The concept aims to guarantee the energy availability in the micro-grid to avoid the electrochemical energy storage units oversizing with optimal power/heat control in the microgrid.
EU policy dialogue and regional information and awareness-raising sessions / Organising of an EU policy dialogue with EU politicians in Brussels on AE systems, their importance for the future EU energy system and to deliver policy recommendations (1). Organise workshops to disseminate results of WP 5 to regional policy / decision makers and to raise awareness for the potential of AE as an essential part for the future energy system considering: social, economic, environmental indicators as well as energy security and independence for regions and the EU (6).
Workshops to collect input, feedback and co-develop visons, strategies and policy for regional stakeholders / Organizing 2 workshops to validate analysis and assessments results from activity 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4, and 2 for the co-design of a vison, governance strategy, pathways to reach goals, and a policy program that will facility and empower energy communities that are developing sustainable, clean, efficient, integrated and collective heating and cooling solutions. Spreading final results to a broad audience. Targets partners and regional actors connected to the energy transition from the pilot areas.
Site visits, fostering co-innovation and dissemination of integrated results from test pilots / Writing 1 communication plan to ensure proper disseminated to the right stakeholders (installers, energy communities). 3 talks at scientific conferences. 3 publications to communicate project results to the scientific community and to raise interest on integrated AE systems across EU. Organize 8 pilot site visits for students and staff from the involved academic partners to enable co-innovation between academics and local partners and to bring the integrated AE innovations in the education.
International project communication activities for dissemination and replication / Drafting international communication plan. Estimated at least 8 international communication initiatives in which texts, videos, publications are developed and spread on social media, webpage, and participation in 3th party events (e.g. EUSEW). Organizing dialogues with external experts and stakeholders to 1) gather input to strengthen the project and 2) spread the results of the Waterwarmth project among a wide variety of stakeholders during 3 workshops and trough network engagement.
Disseminating results on system integration to local actors and to the scientific community / Writing a communication plan for WP4 (1). Writing texts on results and insights obtained in control systems and energy management of microgrids with AE and storage aspects. Setting up a webpage on AE system integration (1). Communicating results within scientific community, energy industries throughout the NSR, universities and engineering schools involved in the project. Making an online WP4 repository with publications from WP4 (1).
Disseminating and fostering uptake of WP6 results, influencing policy makers, creating awareness among citizen initiatives / Writing texts related to WP6, publishing on project and partners webpages, feeding social media channels, making posts, publications, and brochures, etc. Variety of activities on the partner level. Organising 3 webinars, 6 online posts, 2 published scientific articles, 2 video clips on WP6 research and results targeting to influence national and EU policy makers and creating awareness among citizen initiatives. Results from WP6 will also feed into the policy dialogues under WP5.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

WaterWarmth pivots around the 3 key points of the EU Green Deal. The aim is to develop and facilitate the implementation and wider uptake of a zero-carbon heating and cooling solution. It targets strengthening of the regional economies through empowering ECs in harvesting, storage and delivering of local energy while reinvesting profit in the community. Through the focus on cooperative systems inclusion of all persons and places in the energy transition is ensured.
WaterWarmth targets to strengthen the position of SME’s that can accelerate the energy transition initiated by ECs. Innovation, investment and skill development in the North Sea region are key to the success of the energy transition. Through the uptake of highly efficient renewable decentralised energy systems a constant supply of low-carbon energy at competitive prices is foreseen. Reducing the dependency on materials and energy from outside the region.
WaterWarmth project relates to this strategy as it works on smart integration of energy sources and development and electrification of decentralised managed energy systems. Digitization and connection of energy assets, controllers and meters is key to maximise efficiency of renewable energy use and to increase feasibility of local energy systems. WaterWarmth will use technology, and empower citizens to do so, to help Europe becoming climate neutral by 2050.
WaterWarmth contributes to the cooperation and coordination between places, levels of governments, policy sectors and societal groups while addressing the energy transition. The societal aspects, governance and policies, and roles of stakeholders from the quintuple helix is an important part of the project. In the project the needs and biophysical / socio-economic impacts of the uptake of aquathermal in different regions will be compared.
WaterWarmth contributes to a sustainable blue economy by developing the uptake of a technology that can be used to extract ambient heat from seas and oceans to warm or cool coastal places across Europe. Innovative sectors as ocean renewable energies may benefit from the WaterWarmth project, its seawater pilot, and the wider uptake of aquathermal energy systems throughout the North Sea region. This with expected minimal environmental impact on aquatic ecology.
WaterWarmth aims at using renewable energy in the most efficient way. This would ultimately reduce the area of land/sea required to provide energy for the EU region. It also provides a realistic alternative to heating homes with biomass or bio energies extracted from semi-natural areas. This will reduce the stress on increased biomass extraction that the EU faces due to an increasing demand for ‘green’ resources.
In 2022, the EC has adopted a European Gas demand Reduction Plan to help reduce gas demand by 15% from 1/8/2020 to 31/3/2023. This strategy recognizes that an important pillar of energy saving is the reduction of heating and cooling. Using ambient heat and creating cooperative decentralised energy systems, such as proposed in the WaterWarmth project can largely reduce gas demand and dependency on Russian gas. Accelerated up-take of AE systems is fully in line with this plan.
WaterWarmth’s goals and visions are fully in line with the EU goal to increase its share of renewable energy (Renewable Energy Directive) through replacing fossil fuels by ambient heat for space heating and cooling and by putting energy efficiency first (as in the Directive on Energy Efficiency). WaterWarmth focuses on decentralised energy provision systems fit for ECs and empowers citizens to become a part of the energy transition.
Contribution is limited, although topics such as circularity and non-toxicity of materials used are definitely a focus point. Also empowering e.g. ECs with decent product information, and green procurement are part of the project. During the project the EHPA engages with the Hubs4Circularity (H4C) EU initiative and expects that the project will contribute to making EU based industrial sites true hubs for the circular use of heating and cooling. Meetings and events are foreseen.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 11
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 5

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-05

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

832 / 832 (100%)

Notes on the data

There are discrepancies in this programme's financial data in keep.eu. Namely, in one or more cases, the sum of the project partners' budgets exceeds the total budget of the respective project. Interact is working with the Programme to correct those figures.

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WaterWarmth: Accelerating the transition towards sustainable heating and cooling based on collective surface water heat pump systems [FA]

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Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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