Future-proof projects Accelerating the energy transition

Accelerating the energy transition

Cordeel Group strives to develop new sustainable technologies and services that provide solutions to the challenges and opportunities presented by the energy transition. Our customers can pioneer new approaches to the continuously changing energy landscape, reduce their operational carbon and be at the forefront of sustainable energy.

Why do we need to accelerate the energy transition?

Buildings have a significant impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and play a major role in contributing to climate change.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the building sector accounted for 39% of global CO₂ emissions in 2019.

Operational carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the energy used to power a building’s systems, including heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.

As part of our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our customers’ buildings, we recognise the importance of mitigating climate change by decreasing the energy consumption in  existing buildings.

While our new builds are already fossil-free, we see a significant opportunity to make a positive impact by renovating older buildings that tend to consume large amounts of energy. By taking steps to reduce operational carbon, we can help our customers decrease their carbon emissions and contribute to a more environmentally responsible future.

Energy as a Service

C-energy supports customers in transitioning to green energy and electromobility by investing in the production and charging infrastructure on the customer’s site. Throughout the contract period, C-energy remains the owner of the assets and is responsible for the complete maintenance of the installed energy assets.

The customer pays a transparent energy price for the consumed electrical energy over a period of 15 years. After that period they become the owner of the energy infrastructure.

Our scope covers all aspects of the project: analysis, design, financing, permits, grid study, insurance, construction, maintenance, monitoring, administration, and billing during operation (“Asset Management”).

The following technologies are eligible for an Energy as a Service project:

Heat as a Service

C-energy provides you with peace of mind regarding the transition to low-emission heating networks for new construction and total renovation projects.

We achieve this by investing in all systems and installations related to the generation, storage, distribution, and measurement of heat on the customer’s site. A similar concept can be applied to cooling and ventilation.

Throughout the contract duration, C-energy retains ownership of the collective heating installation and substations. Similar to Energy as a Service, we remain responsible for the maintenance of the installed heat assets.

The customer pays a transparent fee for the installation and maintenance and a per-determined price for the consumed heat over a period of 20 years and becomes owner of the energy infrastructure afterwards.

Possible technologies

  • Collective heat generation and distribution at low temperature
  • All forms of geothermal energy
  • Heat pumps: air-water / air-air
  • Backup heating installations
  • Cooling (active and passive) and ventilation
  • Energy Management System (EMS)

Energy storage

Energy storage will play a vital role in any future-proof energy management strategy. Battery technology can help optimise the use of renewable energy sources by matching our customer’s energy consumption with their energy production.

Lithium-Ion batteries made in Belgium

Our subsidiary C-battery is an expert in engineering and assembling both mobile and stationary batteries using Lithium-Ion technology.

The main advantages of our Lithium-ion battery are:

  • Stationary and mobile solutions for indoor and outdoor usage
  • Small footprint and high energy density
  • Integrated fire protection
  • Designed to be environmentally responsible and to minimise waste across their entire lifecycle
  • Ideal for trading, auto-consumption, peak shaving, backup power

Capacity: from 70 kWh to 3 MWh

SDG - 7: Affordable and clean energy
SDG - 13: Climate action

Installing energy-efficient techniques

Buildings are increasingly evolving into smart buildings. As a result, the demand for innovative technical installations is growing immensely.

Thanks to the various companies within the C-tech division, with a strong focus on integrated project management and customized solutions, we are able to meet this need. The companies within the C-tech division design and install the most complex multi-technical installations themselves.

From HVAC and electricity to plumbing and piping, to industrial automation, security systems, energy applications, and maintenance.

The main purpose of a HVAC system is to maintain a healthy indoor air quality through adequate ventilation with filtration whilst providing thermal comfort. However, HVAC systems are among the biggest energy consumers in a building.

To address this, we can implement efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning solutions that rely on renewable energy sources and low GWP (‘global warming potential’) air-conditioning systems. These measures can significantly reduce the operational carbon emissions of buildings. For instance, the new Imtech Naninne office building will be equipped with a CO₂-heat pump with a low GWP and low operational costs.

SDG - 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG - 13: Climate action

Hydrogen boiler heats building of Port Of Antwerp-Bruges

Pilot project to demonstrate feasibility

The 1430 m³ “Schildershal” workshop of the NOC (Nautical Operational Cluster) is heated using a hydrogen boiler running on hydrogen from renewable sources, making it climate-neutral. The use of such a boiler for such a building is a first in Belgium.

The hydrogen is derived from renewable energy sources: 70% from locally produced green energy from surplus solar panels, and the remaining 30% from the grid via green power purchase.

Imtech was the contractor for this innovative pilot project and happy to support the customer in its ambition to have a leading position in the local and international hydrogen economy.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to reduce CO₂ emissions resulting from building heating by 92% by 2030.

SDG - 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG - 13: Climate action

New headquarter CM Hasselt

Modular HVAC systems

The new headquarters of CM features energy-efficient HVAC systems that ensure efficient production of heating and cooling water with 4-pipe heat pumps.

The modular configured ventilation system provides hygienic ventilation with CO₂ control in specific zones such as meeting rooms.

For optimal comfort, climate ceilings are installed in the building and each zone is individually adjustable, allowing for personalized climate settings.

Due to the modular construction, it is possible to register energy consumption per block/floor/zone for both heating/cooling and water usage.

hier tekst

Maintenance

Imtech has dedicated maintenance technicians that are responsible for maintaining the technical installations under contract.

Regular maintenance plays a crucial role in promoting energy efficiency, extending the lifespan of equipment, facilitating upgrades and retrofits and curbing emissions. This is particularly important for air-conditioning systems, where leaks can have a significant impact on CO₂-emissions.

C-maintenance employs additional maintenance experts that are responsible for the general maintenance of the projects that we built under a “DBXM” formula. In the contract we committed to not only build, but also maintain the buildings over a defined time span.

SDG - 12: Responsible consumption and production

Cordeel is leading community energy systems development in Europe

To meet Europe’s needs and advance Community Energy Systems, Cordeel has taken the lead role in the Horizon Europe-funded project CREATORS.

We are coordinating the project, together with experts in monitoring and simulation (I.LECO), emulation for digital twins (Typhoon HIL), and financing (ep group). Goal of the project is to develop the next generation of on-site energy communities for CO₂-free energy management.

Starting in 2020 and ending in 2024, the partnership will support 20 energy communities in over 10 countries across Europe.

Energy hills

Our patented Energy Hills are powerful hydro batteries that function as both energy assets and ecological landmarks.

This concept is highly versatile, suitable for developing open land plots, as well as (re)developing brownfields, (abandoned) industrial sites or historic landfill locations. A water-bound site is preferred to enable waterways for transport, minimising the need for trucking.

 

How does it work?

We construct a green hill with an altitude of up to 40 metres, with a water basin placed on top of that hill. The interconnected basins – on top of the hill and at the bottom – form a closed circuit to limit the impact on local surface water or groundwater dynamics.

Excessive renewable energy or imbalances on the electricity grid, are used to pump up water and store it in the basin on top of the hill as potential energy. This energy can be converted into hydroelectricity as needed.

The final design of each hill is adapted to fit in with the local fauna and flora, creating an integrated ecological habitat that blends in perfectly with its surroundings.

Currently, we build a pilot project in Temse, set to be finished by 2025.

Electrification of industrial processes

Sustainable and fast heating technology 

MEAM, which stands for ‘Microwave Energy Applications Management’, specialises in developing smart and low-carbon solutions for the electrification of various industrial processes such as heating, drying and pasteurisation. Industrial microwave technology can successfully heat suitable materials directly to the core without transfer losses or the need for heat transport mediums like air or steam.

This microwave technology aligns with our vision of the future, as it allows for the electrification of gas-driven heating processes, making energy transfer more efficient and faster while simultaneously reducing and even eliminating on-site emissions of CO₂, NO₂ and SO₂.

Moreover, the technology offers additional advantages such as the elimination of warm-up time and requiring less floor, making it more cost-effective to implement in terms of OPEX.

Stable energy supply

In 2022, C-energy acquired a stake in MEAM. Through our close partnership with MEAM, we are able to offer solutions that guarantee a dependable energy supply for their microwave installations and provide our clients with essential expertise and guidance during their transition period.

SDG - 7: Affordable and clean energy
SDG - 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG - 13: Climate action

Our vision of a future-proof project

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