Jade Daems

Up to 70% of households in Flanders are still heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas. This traditional method causes high CO₂ emissions and increases dependence on external energy sources. A significant share of Europe’s gas came from Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, triggered an energy crisis in the EU, with soaring prices and major uncertainty. This illustrates that fossil fuels are not only environmentally harmful but also pose geopolitical and economic risks. A structural transition toward renewable, local, and stable thermal energy is urgently needed.

A promising location for this transition is Waterschei, a district of Genk with a rich mining history. After the closure of the mine in 1987, the underground galleries filled with deep groundwater. Over the years, this water has been naturally heated by geothermal energy. At a depth of 1,040 meters, a constant temperature of 40°C has been recorded. This makes it possible to develop a collective heating network through aquathermal energy, using the mine water system.

Such a network requires an energy station, where heat can be exchanged, stored, transported, and distributed to users. In Waterschei, the former train station will be repurposed for this function. The technical installations of an energy station also release residual heat. By applying this principle on a larger scale, a warm and stable indoor climate is created, ideal for tropical plants.

This gives the station a dual role: as the operational hub of a sustainable heating network, and as a botanical garden. The concept combines energy production with ecological and social value, while offering a new future for a historic site. 

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