Exploring the ambiguous socio-spatial potential of collective heating in Flanders. Planning and design as lever for a sustainable energy transition

ABSTRACT

Energy networks have supported and reproduced Flanders’ dispersed urbanization, but today this energy-intensive landscape is running into its ecological and societal limits. As a part of the energy transition, a pluralization of heating solutions is emerging in the region. Collective heating systems introduce logics of proximity, spatial selectivity and collectivity into this landscape characterized by dispersion, ubiquity of services and individualism. This paper explores what spatial and socio-political questions are at stake in the transition to a fossil-free heating system: can it support proximity-based spatial development and energy democracy or will it contribute to socio-spatial fragmentation and exclusion? These potentials and risks are revealed through an in-depth case study of the city-region of Roeselare, based on scenario and design workshops with stakeholders. The research indicates that spatial planning and design have a key role in visualizing the spatial and socio-political potentials of the heat transition, by identifying opportunities for collective solutions at multiple scales, connecting energy strategies with other spatial questions and imagining more inclusive governance models.

KEYWORDS:

• Energy transition
• urban design
• district heating
• dispersed urbanization
• energy democracy

Acknowledgements

I would like to warmly thank the city administration of Roeselare for the constructive collaboration, in particular, climate and energy expert Timo Wyffels and environmental officer Bert Vanhuyse for sharing their experience and co-organizing the workshops. I’m grateful to all the workshop participants for sharing their time and expertise. I want to thank the two anonymous referees for their insightful and constructive feedback. I also wish to thank my supervisors Prof. Michael Ryckewaert and Prof. Fabio Vanin for their trust and support and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel for funding this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 Certain advantages of social government policy, often inadvertently, go more to higher than to lower socio-economic groups.

2 Heat demand per length of network, often expressed in kWh/m. Large urban or industrial activities or higher building density usually contribute to a higher linear heat demand in a certain street or area.