Transfo Living Lab

The living lab was established under the RE/SOURCED project. The living lab can serve as a blueprint for sustainable energy transitions in urban and settings.

RE/SOURCED is an EU-funded Urban Innovative Actions project that aimed to create a renewable energy smart microgrid on the site of a former coal-fired power station in Zwevegem, Belgium. The project incorporated circular economy principles, renewable energy solutions, and a direct current (DC) backbone to enhance energy efficiency.

Key objectives included:

1. Designing and implementing a circular smart microgrid.

2. Establishing an energy community that integrated renewable energy production, storage, and sharing.

3. Repurposing heritage buildings for modern uses while retaining their cultural significance.

4. Demonstrating innovative technologies such as second-life EV batteries and DC infrastructure in a real-life setting.

Key results achieved:

• A DC-based renewable energy microgrid was constructed using solar PV, a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, battery storage and flexible EV-charging.

• Adaptations were made due to regulatory hurdles, including collaboration with existing energy cooperatives like Vlaskracht.

• The project created a living lab for testing energy technologies and systems, advancing knowledge in circular energy practices.

Future Challenges

1. Regulatory Barriers:

   • Inconsistent EU and national legislation on energy communities and DC grids pose significant challenges.

   • Flemish laws currently discourage collective active users, leading to financial disincentives for energy communities.

2. Integrating the thermal energy system

   • Making the district 100% fossil-free.

   • Using the flexibility potential of thermal energy buffers and heat pumps

3. Scalability and Financial Viability:

   • The project's business model faces long-term sustainability concerns, especially as novel technologies like DC grids often entail higher upfront costs.

   • Adapt the business model and the technologies to fast changing energy markets (e.g. unbalance markets).

4. Circular Economy Integration:

   • Limited markets for second-life materials (e.g., reused solar panels) and the high cost of dismantling and repurposing materials remain obstacles.

   • Future policies must incentivize circular design and procurement practices.

5. Technology and Infrastructure:

   • Challenges in sourcing and integrating emerging technologies (e.g., flywheels, DC/DC chargers) highlight the need for further innovation and supply chain development.

   • Heritage constraints may limit renewable energy installations in similar sites.

6. Community Engagement:

   • Encouraging diverse stakeholders to adopt and maintain energy-sharing practices in small-scale energy communities remains a complex task.

7. Policy Alignment and Support:

   • Greater alignment between energy and material efficiency regulations at the EU and national levels is critical.

   • Regulatory sandbox mechanisms could foster innovation but require political and institutional support.