Noord-Brabant looking into creating first provincial heating company in the country

The possibilities for a provincial heating company will be explored in Noord-Brabant in the near future, although the politicians in The Hague still need to decide on the matter. Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) has stated that the reconnaissance in Noord-Brabant is the first of its kind in the country.

The company’s director, Herman Exalto, has said that he hopes that the knowledge that is gained in Noord-Brabant will help stimulate similar developments in other provinces. “Insights and solutions that we are going to learn during the Noord-Brabant reconnaissance will also be very relevant for other regions and provinces.”

The provincial heating company could supply affordable and sustainable heat to homes and companies and also play a role in making buildings free of natural gas, grid operator Enexis, EBN, and the province of Noord-Brabant think.

All three organizations signed the agreements on Thursday in Lieshout. Enexis wants to speed up initiatives for collective warmth. It is a step in the right direction, said their director, Bram Gerrist. “We need to grab any alternative to get away from natural gas and prevent the overloading of the electricity grid.”

Bas Maes, the commissioner for energy, has said that he thinks this will be beneficial for residents. The provincial heat company could ensure that energy is affordable in the future. “We want a heat company with a fair distribution of affordable and sustainable heat.”

He added that this, along with other measures like isolating homes, will help prevent energy poverty. “It is not just about rolling out large, profitable networks. We want to support all our municipalities and also find solutions in small communities."

Noord-Brabant is not waiting for the law, which means that EBN and Enexis can formally participate in these types of projects. “We are continuing with preparations. I have been commissioner for eight months and know that if we wait for each other, then nothing will happen,” Maes said. EBN has said that they are currently preparing everything so that they can start right away when the law has been passed.

There are parts of Noord-Brabant that cannot be provided with sustainable heat in this way. The outskirts and the villages will need different solutions, and the heat production company will help search for these solutions.

Joan Briels, alderman of Laarbeek, which Lieshout is a part of, is happy with this plan. His smaller municipality is currently searching for a solution. “This is a subject that requires more of a collective. It is positive that the province, Enexis, and EBN are also taking this point into their research.”