Heat network: frequently asked questions

A central heating boiler burns gas to heat water for your heating and shower. With a district heating network, this is done differently: water is heated centrally and transported to your home via underground pipes. 

There are different types of heat networks. The benefits may vary depending on the type. These are the main benefits:

1.  Less noise:
   If everyone installs their own heat pump with an outdoor unit, this can cause a lot of noise. A heat network prevents this. The heat exchanger of a heat network makes about as much noise as a central heating boiler.
2. More sustainable:
   A heat network emits less CO2. The heat mainly comes from electricity. In the Netherlands, this electricity is increasingly green (sustainable).
3. More stable prices:
   The price of a heat network does not depend on the price of gas. However, it does depend on the price of electricity. Because the Netherlands is generating more and more of its own green electricity, we expect the price of electricity to remain more stable than the price of gas. Gas is likely to become more expensive over the next 25 years.
4. Efficiency:
   The heat pump in a heat network works better than a separate heat pump. Especially in winter, when a lot of heat is needed.
5. Lower costs:
   We want to keep costs as low as possible for residents. We believe that this can be achieved with a district heating network. This is currently being investigated further.

Exactly which ones depend on the type of heat network. In all cases, the street must be (partially) opened up to lay pipes. This causes temporary inconvenience. With a heat network, you also cannot choose your own energy supplier, as you can now with gas.

Each household has the choice of whether or not to connect to the heat network. If no one wants to connect, the heat network cannot be installed.

We are striving to create a heat network that requires as few modifications to your home as possible. Your current gas boiler will be removed. Radiators can remain in place. Instead of the gas boiler, a system will be installed that heats the water from the heat network to a higher temperature. You can use this hot water for heating, showering, and producing hot tap water.

We don't know that yet. We are striving to keep costs as low as possible for residents. 

You can sign up for the sounding board group to actively contribute your ideas via energie@westmaasenwaal.nl. Together, we will look for a design that best suits the wishes of the residents. 

That's only positive. With a heat network, you pay a standing charge (just like with gas) and you also pay for usage. If you use less, you also pay less.

You do not have to participate. You can still connect to the heat network when your current installation has been depreciated. It may be that in the future, connecting to the heat network will be more attractive than the individual solution. You are then free to connect at a later date.

We have a good relationship with the De Kernen housing association. When the time comes, the housing association will arrange the switch and any necessary modifications to the home. Private landlords can decide for themselves whether or not to connect to the district heating network.

Do you live in the area where we are conducting the feasibility study? And is your boiler really due for replacement? Then it is best to opt for a good used boiler or rent a boiler. In the meantime, we are working hard to determine whether the heat network is technically and financially feasible. If you can wait to replace your boiler, we recommend waiting until the results of the feasibility study are known.  

If you live in the area where we are conducting the feasibility study, it would be better to wait. If a heat network is feasible, our offer may be more cost-effective than an individual heat pump. If you purchase a new heat pump now and later decide to switch to the heat network, the investment in the heat pump will have been for nothing.

We will start in this neighborhood in Beneden-Leeuwen. Other neighborhoods and villages will follow. We do not have a schedule for that yet. We will use the lessons we have learned to make the right choices for the other villages. 

There is a good chance that the villages along the Meuse (Alphen, Altforst, Appeltern, and Maasbommel) will not get a heat network. These villages are probably too small to install a profitable heat network. A (collective) individual solution will likely be the best option. This means either individual heat pumps or perhaps a heat solution per street. We will communicate about this at a later date.

For Wamel, Dreumel, and Boven-Leeuwen, there is a chance that a heat network will be installed at some point in the future. However, this will take a very long time. Do you live in one of these villages and need a new boiler? Then you can still purchase a new boiler, possibly combined with a hybrid heat pump. 

You can send an email to energie@westmaasenwaal.nl. We will contact you as soon as possible.