In Leuven, two neighbourhoods give citizens the opportunity to redesign their heating systems

In Leuven (Belgium), the energy transition is not happening in abstract plans, it is taking shape in real streets, homes, and communities.

Two neighbourhoods, very different in character, are leading the way: the existing Constantin Meunierstraat and the newly developed De Boomgaard. Together, they tell a story of how cities can rethink heating, not just from the individual perspective, but as a shared, collective system.

At the heart of both projects is an alliance: the City of Leuven, local residents and end-users, the citizen energy cooperative ECoOB, and KU Leuven. Each brings a piece of the puzzle—policy, participation, technical expertise, and innovation. Together, they build towards a vibrant Local Energy Community (LEC) that is redefining how energy is produced, shared, and governed.

De Boomgaard: building a neighbourhood around care and energy

In De Boomgaard, on the outskirts of Leuven, the future is being built from the ground up. Two new residential buildings, designed for 36 people with care needs, are rising, with completion expected by 2027. But beyond bricks and mortar, something more ambitious is taking shape: a neighbourhood where care, community, and clean energy are fully intertwined.

Here, energy is designed into the project from the start. Managed by the citizen cooperative ECoOB, a concept is devised that brings together heat pumps, solar panels, and a local heat network into one collective infrastructure.

Instead of each household managing its own energy, residents become part of a shared system. Through an Energy-as-a-Service model, they will benefit from affordable, renewable heat without needing to manage the complexity behind it.

What makes the system particularly innovative is its “intelligence.” A Model Predictive Control (MPC) system continuously analyses weather forecasts and electricity prices to decide when to store or use energy. On sunny days, heat is stored for later. When electricity prices spike, consumption is reduced. The result is a system that quietly optimises itself, improving comfort for residents while keeping costs under control.

And the story may not stop at the site boundary. The LEC is exploring whether surplus heat could be shared with nearby homes, turning De Boomgaard into a small but powerful energy hub for the surrounding neighbourhood.

Constantin Meunierstraat: transforming an existing street

Across town, in the historic C. Meunierstraat, the challenge is very different. Here, the goal is not to build new but to transform the old. As the street is redesigned into a greener, more liveable space, a second transformation is planned underground.

Beneath the surface, a geothermal heating network is being prepared—one of the first of its kind in Belgium. Using borehole thermal energy storage (BTES), heat will be drawn from the ground, upgraded through central heat pumps, and distributed to around 200 households, as well as a school and, potentially, a hospital. For residents, this means something simple but powerful: replacing gas boilers with a cleaner, collective alternative.

But getting there is anything but simple.

Installing such a system in a dense, historic neighbourhood requires careful coordination with other infrastructure works, precise technical design, and constant attention to residents’ comfort. It also requires flexibility—ensuring the system can adapt over time as needs evolve.

In many ways, C. Meunierstraat is a test: can a complex urban environment successfully transition to collective, renewable heating?

More than infrastructure, a new way of working together

What connects these two projects is not just technology, it is governance.

Both rely on a close partnership between the city, the citizens, support experts and the citizen cooperative. Together, they are navigating uncharted territory: how to use public space for energy infrastructure, how to organise long-term operation, and how to ensure fairness in access and pricing.

District heating systems are long-term commitments, often lasting decades. This means decisions made today, about ownership, contracts, and responsibilities, will shape the system for generations.

Making the energy transition a collective and inclusive project

If technology is one challenge, engaging residents is another. Some groups, such as landlords, vulnerable households or underrepresented groups, are harder to reach.

Yet this is precisely what makes these projects meaningful. They are not just about reducing emissions—they are about building systems that are inclusive and fair.

To help municipalities navigate this complex challenge, we have just released a new module about Inclusive and equitable energy communities. Not longer than 2 hours, it is designed to help energy communities embed inclusivity and intersectionality into their energy projects.

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What is happening in Leuven is not an isolated experiment—it is part of a wider shift taking place across European cities. Cities are increasingly rethinking how energy systems are designed, governed, and shared. As highlighted in previous examples in Strasbourg (FR), Utrecht (NL) and Dublin-Balbriggan (IE), the transition is moving closer to where people actually live: at the neighbourhood level.

As more municipalities explore ways to decarbonise heating, the question is no longer if collective solutions will emerge, but how they can be implemented effectively and fairly. Leuven offers part of that answer. And together with other pioneering cities, it is helping to build a shared roadmap towards climate-neutral, resilient, and citizen-driven energy systems.