Green light for WarmtelinQ heat transport pipeline
News article
On 8 November 2021, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and Gasunie gave the green light for the construction of WarmtelinQ, a pipeline to transport residual heat from the Port of Rotterdam to the city of The Hague. Liesbeth Siesling, Community Engagement & Permits Manager at Eneco, and Floor Hooijman, consultant for Business Development at Gasunie New Energy, reflect on the importance of this project for the energy transition. Liesbeth: ‘It is a very important pipeline for the province of Zuid-Holland, offering as it does municipalities an alternative to natural gas.’
Breakthrough in the heat transition
‘By harnessing residual heat from companies in the port of Rotterdam, we can supply volumes of heat that equal the total heat consumption of 120,000 households, and cut carbon emissions by around 0.18 megatonnes per year in the process,’ Floor explains. ‘That is a major step in the energy transition, but also a breakthrough in bringing supply and demand of heat together, which is a tremendous challenge for virtually all heat grids. You can’t invest in resources if you don’t have customers, and vice versa. WarmtelinQ can resolve this chicken-and-egg problem.’
Support for heat
Liesbeth: ‘The province and most of the region really want this pipeline and are very happy that it is going ahead. But the pipeline runs through six municipalities, so you have to deal with a lot of parties.’ There is also resistance, especially in The Hague. In some places people are concerned that WarmtelinQ will crowd out local initiatives, that we will price them out of the market.’ We believe, however, that WarmtelinQ can actually be a catalyst for the emergence of new, local initiatives. This is why we maintain continuous dialogue with local communities.’
Role of heat grids
Floor: ‘There is huge demand for heat. To fully meet this demand, you really need more than WarmtelinQ alone. There is room for other, local sources and grants are also available for that.’ Liesbeth agrees. ‘Various studies have shown that a significant part of the demand for heat in the Netherlands can be met through heat grids. But not every region in the Netherlands is suitable for this. This location is unique thanks to its many renewable sources and the densely populated area nearby.’
Contribution to society
‘With this, for the first time Gasunie is laying a different type of pipeline than a gas pipeline,’ Liesbeth continues. ‘We are now investigating whether it would be possible to lay a branch of the route from Rijswijk to Leiden. What will help in garnering support for that is that the heat transition has become an increasingly clear task for municipalities. Municipalities have already had to give this matter considerable thought.’ Floor: ‘The ball is now rolling. The more parties that join in, the more affordable it ultimately becomes for the end user. And the greater the contribution it will make to society.’