WVI will make an investment into a part of a heat network on the Suikersite in the city of Veurne. The heat surplus produced by a company in the business park will be transferred to the new residential area. To manage this process a new and innovative collaboration form resembling an EC will be created.

“Thanks to the European Interreg 2 Seas project LECSEA, WVI as the landowner of the Suikersite is investing in the 'missing link' between the residual heat source at PepsiCo and the residential area.” -  Peter Roose, mayor of the city of Veurne

The innovative aspect lies in the usage of heat surplus from private partners, making it run fully on renewable energy with a significant CO₂ reduction compared to the usage of fossil fuels (estimation of 1.456 ton of CO₂ reduction in the next 10 years).

“With this heat network, the homes and apartments no longer need to have an individual heating system (gas, boiler or heat pump).” - Davy Demuynck, CEO ION (project developer)

“Europe wants all member states to be climate neutral by 2050. In order to achieve that goal, we will therefore have to try to make maximum use of sustainable heat. As a Flemish network operator, Fluvius wants to take its responsibility to realize even more public heat networks. We opt for heat networks that we can anchor in a local context in a sustainable way and which are also ecologically, economically and socially feasible.” -  Frank Vanbrabant, CEO Fluvius

The public-private collaboration between businesses, the network operator Fluvius, heat supplier Noven, WVI and the city of Veurne is innovative as well. A legal investigation into the working of such a collaboration will be conducted during this project. Finally WVI will look into possibilities to expand the heat network by attracting more heat producing suppliers and heat demanding facilities such as local public buildings. A business case will be developed to attract investors to help finance the upscaling. 

“The potential of industrial residual heat in Flanders is enormous. This heat network is a perfect practical example that demonstrates how we can convert heat loss into climate-friendly energy gains when companies, government and citizens join forces. The Flemish government is doing everything it can to encourage companies to follow this fine example," - Zuhal Demir, Flemish Minister of Energy