WaterWarmth Podcast Series: No. 2 – YES, IN MY BACKYARD!

Published in Hot Cool, edition no. 5/2025 | ISSN 0904 9681 |

From local frustration to local ownership

In Middelfart, Denmark, Morten describes a modest yet meaningful aqua thermal energy pilot: extracting heat from a small pond to supply a nearby community house. “We call it a Mickey Mouse project,” he says, “but it’s special, just like Mickey Mouse.”

Despite its size, the project represents a significant shift. It emerged from local frustration over high heating costs and was nearly stalled by bureaucracy. But thanks to support from the WaterWarmth project, the team secured funding for a feasibility study and is now moving forward as proof of concept. Morten hopes it will serve as a model for other communities in Denmark, where environmental legislation hasn’t always supported innovative heating technologies like aqua thermal energy.

Scaling up with an “elephant model”

In contrast, Belgium’s Energent represents the “elephant” approach. Founded a decade ago by citizens demanding a socially just energy transition, it now boasts over 2,500 cooperative members and runs large-scale investment projects.

Energent’s aqua thermal energy pilot is still in the feasibility phase, but the cooperative is already applying its tried-and-tested model: raising funds through capital calls, engaging members early, and ensuring technical and economic plans serve a broad base of stakeholders. “Each resident needs to see the benefit of participating,” Joachim explains.

Crucially, Energent builds not just infrastructure, but trust. The cooperative hosts annual general meetings, publishes monthly newsletters, and welcomes volunteers into its day-to-day operations. “People are not just customers, they’re co-owners.”

What makes energy communities different?

Both guests emphasized that energy communities offer something which conventional utilities often cannot: speed, local buy-in, and flexibility.

“We often say people want to say ‘Yes, in my backyard’,” says Morten. “They want to be involved, not just consulted. They want to build their own energy systems.”

This local dimension is especially relevant to district heating. “Heat doesn’t travel hundreds of kilometers,” says Joachim. “These systems need to be local by nature, and that’s where energy communities shine.”

Financing green heat: Still a barrier

One of the biggest challenges discussed was funding. While feasibility support through projects like WaterWarmth is crucial, neither Energent nor Middelfart have access to long-term implementation funding yet.

Both guests called for reforms in national and EU financing frameworks. Morten advocated for public guarantees and extended loan terms, like those supporting Denmark’s traditional district heating sector. Joachim agreed and pointed out a stark statistic: “Belgium still provides €13 billion a year in fossil fuel subsidies. Just a fraction of that could help us scale renewable heating.”

Profit vs. stability: Rethinking the business model

Are community energy models viable in the long run?

Joachim’s answer is a firm yes. While Energent is profit-driven, it prioritizes slow, steady returns that support members over speculative gains. “We don’t aim for quick wins. We aim for long-term value.”

Morten agrees, citing how Belgian cooperatives like Ecopower offered members stable prices throughout the recent energy crisis. “Sometimes, stability is the profit.”

Final advice: Start small. Just start.

To conclude, Lesia asked both guests what advice they’d offer to communities considering an aqua thermal energy project.

Morten highlighted the importance of networks—learning from others and celebrating small wins. “You need courage, curiosity, and stamina,” he says. “But you also need each other.”

Joachim added, “Don’t wait until conditions are perfect. Start small, learn as you go, and build step by step. That’s how you grow an energy community.”

A Broader Lesson

If there’s one insight that ties this conversation together, it’s that the green transition doesn’t have to wait for top-down transformation. Local energy communities, when supported with the right policies, financing tools, and recognition, can lead the way with real-world impact, shared ownership, and innovative heat solutions like ATE .

And as this episode of WaterWarmth reminds us, sometimes the smallest projects spark the biggest change.

Read more about the project here