Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2026-01-12

Description

Description (EN):

District Heating and Cooling (DHC) is a major tool for the energy transition of city neighbourhoods, featuring prominently in many local climate plans. In most cities in NWE grids still need to be developed, however. The main challenge is no longer technological, but economic: the existing alternative, i.e. natural gas, does not require upfront investments, is well known and therefore the default option. This is why most DHC systems start by only connecting large consumers to a backbone grid of limited length. Capital expenditure is relatively limited and perceived risk is reduced as there is a predictable income stream – but the potential of DHC is also severely constrained. RODEO breaks down this barrier by introducing a more participative business model that rebalances the costs, benefits and risks of developing DHC. This enables heat grids to be deployed at scale and eventually reach individual homes. The initiative almost always resides with the local authority, but it is the interplay between all stakeholders - local governments, grid operators, heat suppliers and heat consumers – that is key to the model. This is a clear departure from traditional arm’s length business models that put the burden on the operator to figure out how to compete with gas. RODEO will co-create this business model and validate it in 4 pilot cities that are developing their own DHC systems: Dunkerque, Oostende, Assen and Dublin. Each city’s grid is in a different stage of development, while all still rely predominantly on natural gas for heating. The exchange between the 4 cities, supported by subject matter experts Exceedence, Hanze and Endeavour, ensures all parties will learn and evolve far more quickly. Such learning would not be achievable in a purely national context; there are simply not enough grids yet in NWE. To maximize impact the lessons learnt during this project will be put into a training program aimed primarily at local authorities and DHC operators across NWE.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During the first semester, following key milestones were achieved and several foundational activities were successfully completed. FORMAL APPROVAL AND SIGNING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT The AF had to be reworked for full approval. Our focus was on demonstrating how activities are interconnected and how they jointly lead to deliverables, outputs and results. The result is a clear work plan, visual timeline and Gantt chart aligning all WPs with project objectives and Interreg requirements that will enable the consortium to work together more effectively. The final AF was successfully submitted together with the PA signed by all partners and RODEO was officially contracted. KICK-OFF WORKSHOP LILLE All partners actively participated in a 2-day KO workshop in Garage Lille. The meeting re-introduced project partners and their activities, exchanged knowledge about the pilots, formulated ambitions and expectations for the financial architecture and stakeholder engagement strategy, and developed a 1st stakeholder mapping for each pilot. Presentation of the 4 pilot DH systems enabled an insight for participants to understand each other's stage and ambitions for future expansion. This approach is essential for ensuring a long-term collaboration of partners. A SOLID GROUND FOR TARGETED COMMUNICATION AND EFFECTIVE CO-CREATION The communication manager worked together with PPs on the External Communication Strategy to gather, consolidate, and refine key inputs that will ensure a cohesive, targeted, and effective communication approach. This ensures that messaging will remain clear, project visibility is enhanced and enthusiasm is supported within the NWE community. The design of the roadmap & toolbox for stakeholder engagement strategies, led by Hanze and Endeavour, has started. Its goal is to guide partners in defining clear and specific target audiences, thoroughly mapping relevant stakeholders, and crafting unified key messages that are tailored to address the diverse groups involved in or impacted by the DH rollout. Pilot partners have started to: - Collaborate in interviews to identify and segment target audiences such as homeowners, local communities and property managers - Support the comprehensive mapping of stakeholders in workshops to better understand their influence, interests, and potential concerns - Engage closely with local staff to align communication activities with existing local initiatives and to facilitate community-level outreach and engagement. STARTING THE MULTI-PERSPECTIVE REVIEW OF PILOT CONTEXTS 1-on-1 meetings between Exceedence, Hanze and key stakeholders of the 4 pilots are being organised to better understand the situation and boundaries in each pilot. By gathering key information on operational constraints and network complexity impacting costs and investments, these early conversation lay the groundwork for a practical and adaptable financial framework tailored to the complexity and ambitions of the pilots and managing investment risks & uncertainty. SETTING UP THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EXPERT GROUP Endeavour took the lead in conceptualizing & setting up the stakeholder engagement expert group. A community of experts in stakeholder engagement across NWE & beyond is being built, incl. experts from municipalities, DH operators and participation & co-creation companies. The first stakeholder expert group was organised online on 26 June. FIRST PILOT MILESTONES AND ACHIEVEMENTS On 24 June, the Assen city council formally approved both the construction of the DH network and the establishment of a municipal heat company. This marked a key step in progressing from preparatory work to implementation. An intent agreement with Actium, the local social housing corporation that will provide the first large number of clients for the district heating, was finalised. Weekly discussions are taking place on the revision of the operating contract for Dunkerque’s DH network and the implementation of a tariff shield to make the network more attractive. A festive public meeting with tenants, local authority and social housing landlords was organised on 11 June allowing exchanges on consumption individualisation and individual billing. The first residential building connected to Tallaght’s DH scheme is nearing occupancy, marking a key milestone in DH rollout and offering a timely opportunity to engage future residents. Highlighting the system’s benefits (efficiency, lower emissions, potential cost savings) will raise awareness and build a positive perception of DH. Stakeholder interviews & workshops resulted in a comprehensive stakeholder mapping developed by Endeavour. This mapping helps to better understand their influence, interests, and potential concerns & will maximize impact of future participation. A public tender was issued for a neighbourhood renewal strategy, aiming to link construction of DH with renovation works in public & private domain and bundle investments in the underground.

Project outputs: Strategy to actively involve stakeholders in extensively branched DHC(EN)
Framework for replicable financial architecture(EN)
Demonstration and validation of the jointly developed financial model and stakeholder engagement strategy in four pilot cities(EN)
100 participants to interactive training scheme(EN)
Website: http://rodeo.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

Clustering and economic cooperation Energy efficiency

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_2) Smart and just energy transition

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 046 Support to entities that provide services contributing to the low carbon economy and to resilience to climate change, including awareness-raising measures

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Stad Oostende

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936955108

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 207 436 775

Department: Strategic Coordination office

Address: Vindictivelaan, 8400 Ostend, Belgium

Department address: Vindictivelaan, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.oostende.be/

Total budget: EUR 875 000.17

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 525 000.10

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 350 000.07

Endeavour

Name: Endeavour

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 929438578

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0559.922.305

Address: Arthur Sterckstraat, 2600 Antwerpen, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://endeavours.eu/

Total budget: EUR 403 187.87

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 241 912.72

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 161 275.15

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Contractors:

Name: Griet Juwet
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE 0791.190.101
Name: Voorde ComV
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE 0767.504.481
Name: ge.meent.het ComV
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE 1011.131.463

Hanzehogeschool Groningen

Name: Hanzehogeschool Groningen

Department: ENTRANCE | Center of Expertise Energy

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 996747848

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL801441213B01

Address: Zernikeplein, 9747AS Groningen, Netherlands

Department address: Zernikelaan, 9747AA Groningen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hanze.nl/nl

Total budget: EUR 799 760.08

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 479 856.04

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 319 904.04

Exceedence Ltd.

Name: Exceedence Ltd.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936620361

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE3332530MH

Address: Lee Road, Sunday’s Well, T23 XE10 Cork, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.exceedence.com

Total budget: EUR 492 779.67

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 295 667.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 197 111.87

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

South Dublin County Council

Name: South Dublin County Council

Department: Architects Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 948800651

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE9509808P

Address: County Hall, Tallaght, D24 A3XC Dublin 24, Ireland

Department address: County Architects, County Hall, Tallaght, D24 A3XC Dublin 24, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.sdcc.ie/

Total budget: EUR 209 824.90

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 125 894.94

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 83 929.96

City of Dublin Energy Management Agency

Name: City of Dublin Energy Management Agency

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 974602457

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 8263306O

Address: The Loft, 2-4 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, D02 TK74 Dublin 2, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://www.codema.ie/

Total budget: EUR 500 108.47

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 300 065.08

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 200 043.39

Office Public de l’Habitat du département du Nord – Partenord Habitat

Name: Office Public de l’Habitat du département du Nord – Partenord Habitat

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 975474487

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR03378072144

Address: Rue de Cambrai, 59020 Lille, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.partenordhabitat.fr/

Total budget: EUR 370 807.15

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 222 484.29

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 148 322.86

Communauté Urbaine de Dunkerque

Name: Communauté Urbaine de Dunkerque

Department: Sustainable City Department. Climate Transition, Air and Energy Service

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 934975726

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR00245900428

Address: Rue du Pertuis de la Marine, 59140 Dunkerque, France

Department address: Route du quai Freycinet 3 - Môle 1, 59140 Dunkerque, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.communaute-urbaine-dunkerque.fr

Total budget: EUR 336 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 201 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 134 400.00

Gemeente Assen

Name: Gemeente Assen

Department: Programme Team Energy Transition

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 910803132

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL 0015.87.936.B01

Address: Noordersingel, 9401 JW Assen, Netherlands

Department address: Noordersingel, 9401 JW Assen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.assen.nl

Total budget: EUR 755 082.04

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 453 049.22

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 302 032.82

Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Oostende

Name: Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Oostende

Department: Energy Saving

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 881297381

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 267.389.606

Address: Gistelsesteenweg, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

Department address: Torhoutsesteenweg, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.oostende.be/ag-o

Total budget: EUR 392 000.84

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 235 200.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 156 800.34

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Endeavour

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Exceedence Ltd.

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

South Dublin County Council

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

City of Dublin Energy Management Agency

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Public Housing Office of the Nord department – Partenord Habitat

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Greater Dunkirk

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Gemeente Assen

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Autonomous Agency Ostend

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Partners and Projects info

Stad Oostende

Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Project acronym: RODEO

Project ID: NWE0400610

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2028-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

IR NWE HEATNET (EN) | DEVELOPMENT OF DHC NETWORKS IN NEIGHBHOURHOODS
RODEO uses lessons learnt about the technological, financial, legal and political approach in the 5 following projects. They inform the baselines that are drawn up at the start of the project.
IR NWE HEATNET
CODEMA developed the Tallaght District Heating Scheme (phase 1) by playing a key role in the promotion and implementation of 4th Generation District Heating (4DHC) through:
. Traditional Business models for DHC
. Identification of roles and responsibilities
. Sources of financing
. Energy Mapping and technical expertise
. Transnational knowledge exchange with other partners
. Influence by demonstrating in practice DH (EN), IR NWE D2Grids (EN) | . Rollout of more advanced (demand-driven, low-temperature) DHC
. Maximize share of renewables in heat generation
. Financial model for third-party investors
. Outreach method/approach developed here (VITO and Kortrijk) (EN), Making City (Horizon Europe) (EN) | Hanze was involved in the development of Positive Energy Districts, including different strategies, policies and socio-technical plans (individual and collective) for the Heat Transition, using Groningen and Oulu as experimental sites. Central to this project has been the development of citizen-participation strategies and tools in a multi-stakeholder urban context. (EN), IR NWE GENCOMM (EN) | Although the project is mostly about hydrogen, we share a focus on forming/activating autonomous/sustainable energy communities with local stakeholders. (EN), POL4PED (DUT – JPI Urban Europe) (EN) | Analysis and development of a strategic policy-mix for the promotion of Positive Energy Districts in different European cities, centrally implicating heating-related policies. (Hanze involved) (EN), IR NWE Marine Energy Alliance (EN) | FINANCIAL AND ORGANISTIONAL MODELS FOR DHC
DHC has been organised differently across Europe, with variations in ownership, financing, price setting and integration with the local authority. The RODEO model combines the insights on participation, positive business cases/risk management and governance tried out in the 3 projects below.
IR NWE Marine Energy Alliance (Exceedence involved)
De-risking innovative technology in the offshore renewable energy sector (floating wind, wave, tidal, wind/hydrogen, and aquaculture)
. Complex and innovative technologies part of value chain in need of different business models
. Ability to understand complex and nuanced systems and synthesis requirements into consistent, transparent, and comparable business models and financial metrics and KPIs
. Utilising financial model to answer different questions for example, the investor case, the cost of energy, cost reduction pathways, value for money, etc.
(EN), Frontrunner cities II – Dutch-Danish collaboration about heat planning and District Heating. (EN) | - Cooperation between Danish Energy Agency, Embassy of Denmark in the Netherlands, VNG (Dutch municipalities organisation) and a group of Dutch Municipalities (including Assen).
- Sharing knowledge about the Danish financial model.
- Sharing examples of corporate buildings, financing, percentages, quality of the heating network
- Sharing best practices. (EN), Holon (Topsector Energie) (EN) | Hanze was involved in the development of a holarchic model for complex decentral energy systems (including heating systems) with multiple consumers and suppliers. (EN), IR NWE ECCO (EN) | PARTICIPATION AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
The 3 projects below develop ways to activate citizens/stakeholders in energy projects and neighbourhood development. The project partners, some of whom have been involved in them, have drawn upon them to design the participation strategies in RODEO. The core idea is designing socio-technical incentives that nudge stakeholders into the direction of DHC.
Community engagement and participation in renewable energy projects. (EN), VLAIO MUPEDD (EN) | Managing social and behavioural uncertainties in the development of collective energy projects & design of positive energy districts (Endeavour involved) (EN), Climate neighbourhood Ter Elst (EU Mission Cities) (EN) | Participation strategy for the city of Leuven (Endeavour involved) (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 134 551.19

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 080 730.69

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

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 080 730.69. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

External Communication Strategy
Stakeholder overview map (including results of survey)
Roadmap and toolbox for stakeholder engagement strategies
Report on existing pilots contexts and models
Draft Excel sheet with theoretical model
Final Excel sheet with replicable model
Summary report on lessons learnt and expansion of DHC
Public Evening Event
Periodic review report De Lariks
Public Evening Event
Periodic review report Les Glacis
Public Evening Event
Periodic review report Tallaght
Public Evening Event
Periodic review report Ostend city centre
Four case studies on deploying extensively branched DHC
A calendar of exchange events per site
Joint Final Event
Interactive Training programme
Tutorial or hands-on tool

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

France (FR), Dunkerque, Avenue de la Libération and adjacent streets, 96 and other numbers, 59140
France (FR), Dunkerque, Avenue de la Libération and adjacent streets, 56 and other numbers, 59140

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
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:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2026-05-12

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

70 / 70 (100%)

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

753 / 753 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Rolling Out DHC Extensively to home Owners

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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