Spatial Report Flanders (RURA) chapter 7: space for energy

Space and energy are strongly connected. The way in which we organise and furnish space determines both energy consumption and the possibility of heat exchange and energy production. Today, our spatial pattern causes poor energy performance. This is especially visible in the high heat demand. The same spatial model ensures that the available space for generation, storage and transport of renewable energy is limited. The question therefore arises as to how we can organise our space to meet the climate targets. What evolutions do we expect? Like the rest of the world, Flanders is taking steps towards a climate-neutral and low-carbon society. This goes hand in hand with a switch from central energy systems to decentralised energy systems. As a result, the infrastructure for the generation, storage and transport of renewable energy will have to be given more and more space in our environment. At the same time, it is a task to maintain, renovate and adapt the existing infrastructure that was often built in the 1970s.

Publication year:2018

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