In december 2020 all 27 European Union (EU) member states have committed to the European Green Deal, being climate neutral by 2050 to combat climate change.
To accomplish this goal, the Netherlands have established the Regional Energy Strategy (RES), dividing the Netherlands in 30 energy regions.

 

The RES assigned municipalities with the role of director: together with property owners, residents, network operators and local authorities all municipalities need to deliver a transition vision for heating by the end of 2021. Identifying local alternative, natural gas free sources to be used for heating, cooling and cooking within the municipality boundaries. 

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Thermal energy recovery from water transported by the WRK could serve as one of these natural gas free alternatives for municipalities along its trajectory, located in the provinces North-Holland and Utrecht. Therefore, this research assessed the potential, possibilities and municipality interest for extracting heat and cold from WRK infrastructure. 

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