AT L A S C ENTR A L L IM B UR G PR O J EC T. Houthalen-Helchteren & the Coal Track
urban design workshop ENVISIONING COALITIONS ALONG THE COAL TRACK HOUTHALEN-HELCHTEREN OSA/KUL, Houthalen-Helchteren, T.OP Limburg, Z33 31/01/2016 - 6/02/2016
List of participants Marin Julie (OSA/KUL), Motti Matteo (DAStU/ Politecnico di Milano), De Meulder Bruno (OSA/ KUL), Buntinx Bertien (Houthalen-Helchteren). With Bortolotti Andrea, Claassen Bart, Clasadonte Manuel, Collart Wout, Daher Racha, Fu Wembo, Lens Dominiek, Lokman Kees, Mento Alice, Stas Michael, Timmers Charlotte, Van Brabant Benjamin, van der Leer Janneke, Van Gils Hanne, Zoroudi Maria. Guests and presentations: Vande Moere Andrew (KUL), Chua Alvin (KUL), Paesen Bart (RLLK), VanDaele Erik (KUL), Van Autgaerden Liesl (RV), Grommen Ciel (Z33), Muzi Martina (Space Caviar), Tielemans Yves & Van Doninck Ludo (Remo Machiels), Eerdekens Dirk (Limburgs Landschap vzw)
During a 7 days intensive design workshop, an international group of 15 young urban designers, architects and landscape architects, developed elements of a sustainable urban and landscape framework for Houthalen-Helchteren. The design workshop is part of an ongoing design investigation of Central Limburg by OSA/KULeuven that included urban design studios in the advanced masters of urbanism such as the Landscape Urbanism studio Campine 2015 and the Urbanism studio Upcycling Limburg. Samples of Transition along the coal track 2015 that followed urban design workshops from 2012 (Stiemerbeek), 2013 (Pond Urbanisms) and 2014 (Coal Track) and that were initiated by the doctoral research of Christian Nolf (2013, supervisors B. De Meulder & K. Shannon). As such, the workshop material presented in this document continues the series of investigations on the potential of Limburg’s landscape to anchor future spatial development. All these workshops have been realized in close collaboration with stakeholders and aim to open perspectives by reframing questions and elaborating strategies that incorporate local knowledge that is triggered by design capacity and an outsider’s view. This design workshop is specifically framed within the transition to the ‘next’ circular economy, a transition that gained momentum since the closure of Ford Genk in 2015. The coal track that used to connect former mining sites is identified as a potential linear infrastructure to support this transition. The coal track can indeed be much more than a recreational bike path. Two themes are explored: the coal track as slow track (identity) and as smart track (resource flows). T.OP Limburg envisions the coal track as a regional ‘connector’ and ‘collector’ of soft mobility, recreation, circular economies, but also as a ‘smart’ distributor of reclaimed resource flows such as heat, water and energy. Houthalen-Helchteren emerges then as an interesting case along the coal track. Here, the materials transition is led by ‘Greenville’, an incubator for clean tech startups that houses in former mining buildings. Remo, one of Flanders’ three huge remaining active landfills, is pioneer in a project of ‘enhanced landfill mining’, in which waste is ‘remined’ to be converted to raw materials such as building materials (plasmarock), water and hydrogen.
The workshop did build onto the until now mainly ‘technical’ approach to the materials transition in HH and aimed to develop strategies for a more integrated approach for an up-grading and up-cycling of the territory. Potential synergies and coalitions between local and other stakeholders are in that perspective of main importance. In short, the workshop developed strategies and development visions that integrate multiple challenges such as mobility, employment, water management while enhancing spatial quality and stimulating co-productions. Hence, attractive and synoptic visualizations became a main instrument of the workshop. The formula of an intensive seven day on-site workshop allows for a continuous and active interaction with stakeholders (mayor and aldermen, regional landscape agency, Remo Machiels Landfill, …), permitting a continuous feedback loop leading to identification of bottlenecks and formulation of ambitions, visions and ideas in a process of co-creation. This process resulted into two visions for HouthalenHelchteren. They unite HH’s ambitions as a clean tech pioneer with the development of an integrated landscape and urban development framework. The first vision, HH as a pioneer in sustainable mobility, proposes a phased mobility switch. The highly congested center of HH gets a breathing space. At the same time qualitative public spaces and soft mobility networks are generated. The second vision envisions HH as a leader in a regional landscape economy, benefiting from the landscape’s ‘wasted’ resources such as branches and cuttings from landscape maintenance. This vision connects to the planned development of a biomass hub for the collection and sorting of biomass and anchors this development on a local network of productive landscapes. The inclusion of HH’s landscapes in a local biomass economy creates a strong identity for HH as a culturally and territorially embedded clean tech municipality. At the same time the two visions include opportunities for job creation and create synergies between the clean tech center and other parts of the municipality, such as the neigborhood Meulenberg. In short, this design investigation contributes to the development of a region specific circular economy that is diversified and simultaneously generates alternative urban forms that enrich the landscape.
HOW TO READ THIS PUBLICATION? Part One of this Atlas surveys the resourcefulness of Central Limburg’s landscape. The landscape functions indeed as a receptacle of resources such as energy, water and other materials. Some resources are untapped, others are wasted, they are either renewable or nonrenewable. This Atlas of Central Limburg specifically maps water, waste, energy and also people and does this across scales and throughout time. Besides the complex current state of water, waste energy or people in Central Limburg, these mappings simultaneously reveal potentials in the territory. The maps indeed aim to identify relevant natural and man-made layers that compose today’s complex state of these systems as well as their physical footprints and traces from the past. The maps simultaneously form a basis to approach the transition of Central Limburg to a circular economy from the perspective of space and context. Part Two zooms in on Houthalen-Helchteren (HH) in Central Limburg. Transition scenarios for HouthalenHelchteren are envisioned: HH as a pioneer in sustainable mobility and HH kicking of a local resource economy. The scenarios incorporate ongoing efforts and innovations, while adding the opportunity for HH to attach its next identity, its local and regional (resource) landscapes, to this big transition effort.
Houthalen-Helchteren surface 48,49 km² 30.560 inhabitants
Limburg Province surface 242.231 ha 838.505 people 44 municipalities
Flanders surface 13.682,38 km² 6.471.996 people 308 municipalities
INDEX 1. Mapping 2. Visions
MAPPING
WATER Reconfiguring Central Limburg’s water metabolism? As everywhere in urbanized Flanders, each stage of the water cycle in Limburg has been locked into a system with a fixed capacity by piping, rerouting, burying and tapping off natural water streams (Nolf, 2013). Invasive paving combined with piped drainage systems create, in case of heavy rainfall, flood problems downstream from the Campine Plateau. During dry periods downstream pond systems face water shortages. Mining activity in Central Limburg added another layer of complexity to Central Limburg’s water story: the mining subsidence areas. These areas have sunk up to twelve meters as a result of collapsing underground coal extraction tunnels. Here, continuous pumping is required to avoid flooding by ground water. Could the reconfiguration of Central Limburg’s water metabolism become a component of the circular economy, while contributing to local ecologies?
WASTE Waste as a resource? Limburg accomodates many waste industries. In line with the numerous companies for recycling, repairing and converting in Limburg, current focus of the transition to circular economies in Limburg is on ‘waste as a resource’. But Limburg also contains many ‘recycled landscapes’. Former resource extraction (sand, gravel, …) pits are converted. The enormous Remo Landfill in HouthalenHelcheren originally was a sand extraction site. An extraction pit, dug to construct the E314 highway, is now a recreational lake (Kelchterhoef). The partially abandoned coal track is on the radar as an interesting linear connection between former mining municipalities that can be reused. What is the potential of a landscape recycling strategy in Central Limburg’s transition to the circular economy? The waste mappings locate existing catalysts for the materials and energy transition in Central Limburg and add infrastructural elements from the past with evident recycling potential. During the last century, large infrastructures such as roads, rails and canals, were constructed to support multiple forms of development in Central Limburg. First coal mining and subsequently industry however declined while these monumental infrastructures remain underused or oversized. Some, as the coal track, are even abandoned. Could these infrastructures play a role in the next – circular – economy? Past (coal) and present (sand) extractions generated quite some micro topographies in the landscape, amongst others mining tailings and extraction pits. Municipalities used to fill these pits afterwards with waste. Today, Central Limburg hides a series of landfills under green fields or forests. Could this constellation of micro topographies be recycled in the next economy?
ENERGY Belgium imports huge quantities of raw materials for energy production. It’s economy heavily depends on world markets. Cable networks transport and distribute electricity throughout the country. Technical shortcomings in Flanders’ aged and centralized energy infrastructure as well as undecided political debates on the where and how of energy production, culminated in energy outage plans since winter 2014. Decentralized energy systems seem to be an evident alternative, especially in dispersed territories like Flanders. What’s Central Limburg’s potential to pioneer as an autonomous renewable energy landscape? The energy mappings assemble potential heat and renewable energy sources in Central Limburg. Besides the obvious option of wind and solar energy in open areas, local biomass harvesting and geothermal energy are promising energy sources. Several studies pointed out Limburg as a strategic region for this alternative energy sources.
PEOPLE What place for people in the circular economy? In the people mapping Houthalen-Helchteren emerges as an interesting case study. An analysis of social media data (Instagram postings and tweets), reveals the area of the coal track in Houthalen as a blind spot on the map. This indicates there is little or no interest currently to stop along the coaltrack in Houthalen. How can Houthalen become a destination along the coal track, being part of a regional recreational network in Central Limburg? Meulenberg, the former mining estates faces many socio-economic challenges. Hence it becomes strategic to include it in the transition to the circular economy, by creating activities related to clean tech.
30% 2018 REMO H2 production
70%
10,6% 88,5% 2018 increase of 1 truck / h if the H2 is transported by road
35,2% 86% 21,6% Today 45.000 daily vehicles
80%
45% local vehicles
20,7% 15,3%
90,4% 27,6%
53,5%
73%
WATER RECONFIGURING CENTRAL LIMBURG’S WATER METABOLISM
Closed system in crisis Flood sensitive areas 2014 Recently flooded areas Current risk Asphalt Overflow sewage system
Water manipulations Sewerage Overflow sewage system WWTP (Threatment plant) Canal
4985958
354360 180925 146574 345632
571334 171315
117535 304999 43432
215505 1617715
335113
356448
715340
820078
133146 715340 270469
584006
1060060
Mining disturbances Subsidences Tunnels Water Pump amounts of water being pumped in m³/y Mining consessions
Natural Water bodies River Water Surface Wetlands
Could the restoration of Central Limburg’s water metabolism become a component of the circular economy, while contributing to local ecologies?
Because of mining and other industrial activities and by piping, burying and containing water , Central Limburg’s water metabolism has been locked into a system with a fixed capacity. The idea that water is fully controllable becomes less relevant as the capacity of the present system is challenged every day. The combination of invasive paving and piped drainage creates problems of flooding in case of heavy rainfall downstream from the Campine Plateau in Central-Limburg.
Management issues
Flows of water
Issues with Flanders’ current water management system being: invasive paving, piped drainage, constricted rivers, changing rainfall patterns, water supply. [source: PhD thesis ‘Sections of Flan-
Flow diagram of the manipulation of water flows in the Campine Region.
Impermeable land
The former mining company is still today pumping out water from mining subsidence areas to prevent them from flooding.
amount of water 10 499 102 m³/year
While in de 70’s these was only 4% impermeable soil, today we see this is 10%. As a result the water tabe drops.
[source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
MINE pumped up
CANAL thrown away [source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
Aquafin The average person uses 120l of water on daily basis. The household water runs through the communal sewage system to sewage treatment plant of aquafin.
[source: http://toerisme.houthalenhelchteren.be, waterzuiveringsstation aquafin]
The Abert Canal was created for the transportation of coal. It is also used for irrigation and drinking water production. Together with the Zuid Willemsvaart the canal is fed by the Meuse River. During dry summers, water
Central Limburg’s natural water structure reveals a historical organisational system in the Campine region territory. Water bodies run from the Campine plateau towards the Demer river. Since the 12th centuraly people have been domesticating this sandy land, by drawing in water. The Wijers are a good example. These artificial fishing ponds are still clearly legible in the landscape.
Pumping stations
ders’, 2013 C.Nolf ]
The combined system of rainwater and sewage water leads to under-capacity of the overall sewage system. The overall peoplecontrolled water system is very expensive and fragile.
Mining activity in Central-Limburg added another layer of complexity to CentralLimburg’s water story: the mining subsidence areas. These areas have sunk up to twelve meters as a result of collapsing underground coal extraction tunnels and need to be constantly pumped in order not to be flooded by ground water. As a result an abundance of water is being wasted. The most striking example can be found in Maasmechelen .
[source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
Strategies for restoring the water metabolism Use underused groundwater as drinking water and recharge the water-table by decreasing impermeable soil. Store flood and rainwater during the wet periods for dry periods. [source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
Kruinenpad This is a recreational path of 181m and 12m above groundlevel is located in the mining subsidence area of Maasmechelen. Along the path there can be found information to educate people about the risks and opportunities of the subsidence areas. [source: Frank Jaspers Architectuurdepot Maasmechelen]
17 BILLION L/ Year = 6800 x Olympic swimming-pools
Greven Meeswijk source area
Drinkable water
Eisden VS canal
Drinking water in the Campine region is produced in 2 ways. Central Limburg’s drinking water is extracted ground water from Eisden’s mining subsidence area. In Antwerp, water is tapped from the Albert Canal.
During the years Eisden sunk up to 12m below ground level. Today the Zuid Willemsvaart Canal is higher than the village. [source picture: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
[source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
The Watergroup
Process scheme water production ‘Het Greven’
The Watergroup, Limburg’s water production company, uses the subsidence area in Maasmechelen for drinking water production. Due to the purifying sand-gravel layers the water has a good quality at the point of extraction.
This article shows the full process of drinking water production: from extraction at the source to production of drinkable water. The installation situated in the nature reserve ‘het Greven’ can be visited and is managed by the Watergroup.
[source: https://www.dewatergroep. be]
[source: unknown]
Section Het Greven Maasmechelen
The Wijers The system of cascading ponds along the rivers was a productive landscape of aquaculture. Every six to eight years every pond was emptied in order to collect fish and then cultivated a year or two to regenerate the soil. [source: PhD
This section shows the level of the canal in comparison to the urban area of Eisden that has sunken 12 m below ground level due to the mining activities. [source: KUL Landscape Urbanism studio2015]
thesis ‘Sections of Flanders’, 2013 C.Nolf and B. Paesen RLLK]
Droughts
Landscape structure
Today, many of these ponds remain part of (protected) landscapes, but in dry periods there is not enough water to fill them.A new vision can help restoring and reinforcing this territorial organizational system based on landscape logics.
This scheme shows clearly the natural water system. The rivers cut trough the edge of the Campine Plateau to connect to the Demer river downstream.
[source: PhD thesis ‘Sections of Flanders’, 2013 C.Nolf and B. Paesen RLLK]
[source: KUL Landscape Urbanism studio2015]
WAST E AS RESOURCE
Current waste practices Recycling Repairing Converting
regional sludge
Aquafin wastewater treatment plant
Remo Ekol Clean tech
bioterra
bongaerts recycling
strongbouw
Van Gansewinkel
jbc
Tip Top Belting
Groepmee
Alpagro
Essers Group Martens
Flagbag
citydepot
Tip Top Belting
depot Roel Vandebeek
Energyville fab lab
ikea
Melotte
banden De Conde Dentsply
Gijbels
Polyvision Aperam Stelimet
group Casters
A2O Architecten
Warsco
group machiels
Wos Genk provan
Ebema
De winning
Closing circles High source of biomass Low source of biomass
REMO H₂ production
GENK NOORD EUROPARK 19 % CENTRUM ZUID
H₂ pipeline along coal track
29 %
THOR 58 %
HERMES 17 %
30 % CORDA CAMPUS NOORD 3000 17 % 29 %
FORD GENK Aperam as potential 28 %
Residual Infrastructural spaces abandoned infrastructure under-used infrastructure oversized infrastructure
Microtopographies Terrils Platform Landfill Excavation
What is the potential of recycling Central Limburg’s landscapes and integrating its infrastructures as par t of the transition to the circular economy?
Existing potential
The closing of Ford Genk in 2014 radically impacted the region’socio economic dynamics, causing the loss of thousands of jobs. Supported by the government’s SALK program, Central Limburg aims to develop into a pioneering region for a circular economy:‘waste as a resource’. Central Limburg houses numerous companies for recycling, repairing and converting. But how can this transition be rooted in its context, its local landscape and culture?
At the start of the transition to a circular economy, several initiatives are already taking place in this spirit. Remo, one of the three remaining active landfills in Flanders is pioneering in Enhanced Landfill Mining. Several research and development institutes and incubators support innovation and unexpected local ‘wastes’ such as biomass from landscape waste are being identified as important resource streams in Central Limburg’s transition to the circular economy.
During the past centuries, large infrastructures such as roads, rail and canals, were constructed to colonize the land and its resources. As first coal mining activities and later industry declined in the region, these infrastructures are today left underused, oversized or even abandoned. What is their potential to be revitalized and recycled in Central Limburg’s next economy?
Past (coal) and present (sand) extractions have created a landscape of micro topographies. In the past, municipalities would fill these pits with waste. Today, Central Limburg hides a series of landfills under greenfields or forests. How can these micro topographies be recycled in the next economy?
Economic cycles in Limburg
This study maps the potential existing companies that could become part of a regional circular economy chain in which waste flows from one company become a resource for other companies. [Source: study BUUR ‘Fundamenten voor de circulaire economie Poort Genk – eindrapport 18.12.2015’: cover page + page 14]
Next economy
T.OP Limburg
Central Limburg’s four historical economical phases: agriculture (1850), industrial production in Lommel (1904), coal-mining period (1919), car industry Ford Genk (2013). What will be the next economy for Central Limburg after three failing economic eras ? [source:
The Flemish government launched a T.OP (territorial development program) to align the economical and spatial developments in the region.
[source: T.OP Limburg publication, 2015]
Regional waste flows. [source: KUL Landscape Urbanism studio 2015]
study Maat & Zus ‘Centraal Limburg’, 2014]
Cleantech campus Greenville
Enhanced landfill mining Closing the circle is a pioneering project in Enhanced Landfill Mining. In Machiels’ Remo landfill, waste wil be ‘re-mined’ and converted to raw materials, mainly plasma rock (30.000 ton/year in 2018) and hydrogen fuel.
Greenville is an incubator for clean tech start ups in Houthalen’s former mining administration building. It houses several companies that develop clean tech innovations such as smart food recycling bins, sophisticated clean tech refrigerators to grow herbs, etc. [source: www.
[source: presentations Machiels Jan 2015 and Feb 2016]
greenville.be]
Europark
REMO
In Europark, an industrial zone in Houthalen-Helchteren, a biomass hub will be developed. Here, biomass waste from the surrounding landscapes will be collected and sorted.
H₂
Ford Genk Aperam as potential
Incubathor Catalysts for the next economy [source: study BUUR ‘Fundamenten voor de circulaire economie Poort
Reusing infrastructure Archival plan mining site Houthalen 1962, indicating the operational link between the Laambroekvijvers and the mining extraction shafts. Today ideas exist to reactivate the coal track side branch as a bicycle path connecting the coal track to Houthalen-Helchteren. [source map: municipal archive Houthalen]
Coal Track as a smart track?
Plan Buurtspoorwegen A map that shows the previous fine-mazed local network of tracks transporting good but also people. Most of this network disappeared but infrastructural traces remain in the landscape.
The Plan d’Ensemble for the coal region provided a holistic, infrastructural approach for the entire region by bundling railway, canal and road. Today this abandoned track is on the radar to become a ‘smart track’, transporting resources such as geothermal heat
[source: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Buurtspoorwegen_van_de_provincie_ Limburg and picture KUL workshop envisioning coalitions around the coal
Artificial manipulations
The Remo landfill
In 1974, Houthalen, one of the region’s seven mining sites, flattened its shist slag heap in order to create an industrial platform, Centrum-Zuid. Shist that’s being dug out by companies has to stay on the plateau since ther is no official category for this type of soil.
The Remo landfill, one of the three remaining active landfills, is located on the former sand extraction site ‘Fredericksgroeve’ in Helchteren.
[source picture: KUL landscape urbanism studio 2015]
[source diagrams: KUL urbanism studio 2015]
Recreation De Plas, a recreational lake in domain Kelchterhoef in Houthalen, was a sand excavation site created when the highway E 314 was being constructed. It is now converted to a 9m deep swimming and diving lake with a sandy beach and a camping area. [source:
Wikipedia and http://www.sensimmogroup.com/sehir-detay.aspx?id=11]
E N E RGY AS RENEWABLE & AUTONOMOUS RESOURCE coal - China 80.000 tons household waste 35.000 tons bulky waste
Bionerga Houthalen waste to energy 4 MW hot steam to AquaďŹ n 5 MW electricity to national grid
Current situation: Energy dependency
shift built wind turbines
wood waste - Germany
Langerlo Genk-Zuid powerplant
greenhouse gas emissions decline with 1.770 000 ton/year goal Limburg = 30% reduction by 2020
high voltage lines high voltage lines underground natural gas pipe transmission station
Potential heat exchange T (°C) 150 - 170 125 - 150 100 - 125 75 -100 50 - 75 < 50 potential geothermal plant heat network industrial zones
Renewable energy sources potential wind turbines potential heat exchanges potential zones for solar panels
Biomass potential large zones with biomass potential small zones with biomass potential Biomass installations
3km
What’s Central Limburg’s potential to pioneer as an autonomous renewable energy landscape?
Around 52% of Belgium’s energy production is covered by nuclear power. Belgium imports a huge quantity of raw materials for energy production, making its economy dependent from the world market. Mainly nuclear power and coal provide Belgium’s energy supply. Energy pipelines carry electricity through the country, they connect different power centrals (nuclear, thermal, hydraulic, aeolic) to the centralized electricity grid.
Deep geothermia is a technique where warmth is extracted from more than 500 m below earth surface. This renewable energy source can play a major role in the futFlemish region’s energy transition. Because of its strategic location the coal track could become a future heat – highway and function as the main spine for a regional heat network where multiple heat-sources can be plugged in.
Local renewable energy production such as wind and solar energy can be further developed in Central Limburg. On a large scale, as Group Machiels is doing with windfarms, but also on the scale of a single building. Expanding the wide range of more local and smallscale energy initiatives that are mostly based on wind and sun, will contributo to the shift towards a more decentralized electricity network. Several studies have pointed out that Limburg with its abundant forests, agricultural land and national parks is a strategic region for local biomass harvesting of landscape management waste. By maintaining and managing the landscape it’s not only possible to improve the cultural landscape and enhance the biodiversity but also to ‘harvest energy’ and materials from biomass, that is local and sustainable. [source: inspiratieboek klimaatneutraal
Energy consumption
Nuclear dependency
The consumption of energy per sector is: 41% transport, 30% industry, 29% residential.
This pie chart shows the diffrent origins of energy in Belgium.
[source: http://www.iea.org/ sankey/#?c=Belgium&s=Balance]
Blackoutplan Technical shortcomings in Flanders’ aged energy infrastructure and political quarrels on the where and how of energy production, culminated in energy outage plans since winter 2014. There is an urgent need for decentralisation.
[source: http://www.iea.org/ sankey/#?c=Belgium&s=Balance]
Energy production in Belgium
[source: Marin, Motti, Chua ‘Upcycling dispersion’ July 2015 based on www. elia.be]
[source: KUL Landscape Urbanism studio 2015]
Prospective study circular economy
29%
41%
30%
The study looks at concrete business cases and formulates longterm vison and policy recommendations at various levels and in different policy sectors, such as energy. [Source : diagram p. 69-70 from study BUUR ‘Fundamenten voor de circulaire economie Poort Genk – eindrapport 18.12.2015]
Atelier diepe geothermie
Coal track as smart track
VITO (The Flemish Institute for Technological Research) together with architecture and urban design office 51N4E developed design and development scenario’s for the coal track to become a regional carrier of geothermal heat, in 2015.
In 2015, T.OP Limburg defined three ‘layered’ futures for the coal track. The coal track as smart track puts forward the potential of this former railway line to become a carrier of resources (energy, water, heat, ...) through Central-Limburg. [source: T.OP Limburg introductienummer, 2015]
Bionerga-Aquafin, Heat exchange
Atelier Track Design Atelier Track Design: Potential heat exchanges between existing companies in Genk-Zuid Study bureau 3E invertorised potential heat exchanges between existing companies in Genk-Zuid for POM Limburg [source: haalbaarheidsstudie
Bionerga, a waste incinerator that might leave Centrum-Zuid in 2020, sells 4MW of heat (steam) from burning waste directly to Aquafin across the street. Aquafin, the water treatment plant, uses the heat to dry sludge from all WWTP’s in Limburg.
Sludge Waste Limburg
warmtenet Genk-Zuid 2013]
Potential solar power 2020
Potential wind energy 2020
Private Solar central Machiels
This map shows the potential for solar enegry based on landuse and the efficiency of the solar panels.
This map shows the potential zones for wind turbines based on GIS analysis. This analysis takes different aspects in consideration such as: urban areas and habitat guidelines.
In cooperation with LRM ( Limburg investment company) several solar-energy parks in the region were create to support their own needs.
[ source : T.OP centraal Limburg, werkatlas Energysysteem, 2014)
[source: http://www.machiels.com, zonnepanelen]
[ source : T.OP centraal Limburg, werkatlas Energysysteem, 2014)
Wind turbines Win(d)t Limburg is the organization that is responsable for finding new potential locations for wind turbines. The organisation is a cooperation between Aspiravi and LRM ( Limburg investment company)
120,7 MW
[source :http://www.ode.be, bouw van 28 nieuwe windmolens in limburg ]
The biomas potential
Optimalisation
The future potential of woody biomass ( material + energy ) for the province of Limburg.
A model to optimise strategic and tactical decisions in biomass-based supply chains
[source: eindrapport ‘Houtige biomassa voor energie in Limburg’, p 65, 2012]
Dipla Tool Regionaal Landschap Lage Kempen developed an interactive tool, DIPLA, for mapping the available biomass from landscape managment waste for local energy production in the region, in order to be able to set up local and regional logistic chains for biomass. [source: twecom.eu growing local energy]
[source: A generic mathematical model to optimise strategic and tactical decisions in biomass-based supply chains (OPTIMASS) in European Journal of Operational Research, Annelies De Meyer, Dirk Cattrysse, Jos Van Orshoven]
Sustainable use For a sustainable use of biomass, it should first be used as a raw material in production processes and only at the bottom of the ladder of Lansink it should be converted (digestion or incineration) to energy. [source: Atelier Track Design: WIT/ OSA-KUL/LTF]
PEO PL E TRANSITION ADDING LOCAL VALUE Social media Instagram photos tweets contours HouthalenHelchteren The map gives an indication of the concentrations of social media activity. The highest concentrations can be seen along the Grote Baan and the social housing neighbourhood of Meulenberg.
# #
#
#
#
Mobility issues
45.000 daily vehicles 45% local vehicles
Unemployment % Unemployed 20,7% 30%
21,6%
10,6%
35,3%
< 14
15,3%
14<18 18<23
27,6%
23<27 >= 27 % Young unemployed
Eisden Beringen 70%
Berkenbos 88,5%
Meulenberg
Zwartberg & Waterschei 80%
Density
73%
Inhabitants/km 2 150<300
86%
300<450
Winterslag 90,4%
53,5%
450<600 >= 600
% Foreigners
How can Houthalen become a destination along the coal track, being par t of a regional recreational network in Central Limburg ?
An analysis of social media data (Instagram postings and tweets), reveals the area of the coal track in Houthalen as a blind spot on the map. This makes us think that there is little or no incentive to stop along the coal track in Houthalen-Helchteren. Concentrations of activity on social network sites are visible in Meulenberg and along the Grote Baan.
Tweets
195725466538221568,51.0126,5.3717,”E314 (A2) Lummen richting Heerlen (Nl) tussen Houthalen-Helchteren en Maasmechelen #flitsBE” 196270133440811008,51.0322,5.3773,”Zat vandaag tussen de zeugen,beren,koeien,biggen.En stront. :) maar het respect voor de boerenstiel stijgt tegelijk mateloos. #fotoreportage”
What becomes immediately visible when reading the tweets is the diversity in tweetedlanguages Dutch, Italian, Greek and mainly Turkish. The traffic jams on De Grote Baan are often the topic of the tweets.
197247780991934464,51.0336,5.3771,”A plus about belgium you get free air for ur tires at gas station yall dont know shit bout that” 197791484500639744,51.0247,5.3753,”@GiovanniPysson nee niet echt, mss een update? Hou ons op de hoogte. ^HS” 198641191103905792,51.0126,5.3717,”E314 (A2) Lummen richting Heerlen (Nl) tussen Houthalen-Helchteren en Maasmechelen #flitsBE” 199578046586552320,51.02969149,5.37219056,”Mensen veranderen niet op basis van inzichten Maar op basis van de kwaliteit van de ontmoeting @peetersflor #cleantechambassadeur”
[source: workshop KUL, 2016]
200518216727011328,51.03385817,5.42647362,”I’m at Paintball Arena (Houthalen-Helchteren, België) http://t.co/kxyOlKNe” 202023753520128000,51.03364657,5.37606711,”#mezunolsakdakurtulsak ama bi taraftada okulu sevioruz yaa :d @Cansuumat @TSerra_ @Melda_Topaloglu” 202026259197341696,51.03360525,5.37608203,”@Cansuumat @tserra_ @melda_topaloglu okdrda demedik cnm :d vur dedik oldurdur xp” 202156627409899520,51.01842269,5.40011873,”#offline xx doeii” 202319012317769728,51.01857977,5.40016769,”Gunaydinn twitter” 202326413792124928,51.01860131,5.40040204,”@Hasan69Sagir iyim hersey yolunda elhmd :-) sen nslsn sesin solugun cikmiyor ?” 202458110923771904,51.01852168,5.40018411,”Whattsap lilarr nerdesinzz :)))) ?” 202612347603394560,51.0126,5.3717,”E314 (A2) Lummen richting Heerlen (Nl) tussen Houthalen-Helchteren en Maasmechelen #flitsBE” 203233695073701888,51.03220552,5.37719863,”Kapat lan su dertli muzikleri :(“ 203573896081965056,51.03221,5.376805,”A light in the dark. #alightinthedark #instagram #weekendproject @ Houthalen http://t.co/mVxYJptH” 203574239721291776,51.03204412,5.37732214,”@snessoog @serge_vc tx voor de info. Nu kijk ik er nog meer naar uit. Maar wil écht gaan met ne straffe fotograaf die mij veel kan bijleren!” 203956096447156227,51.02312721,5.40437055,”@Cansuumat @typz_rockrrrr iste bnde onu demek istedim :d tam kelime anlamiyla oyleydi :d” 203960657660485632,51.02303225,5.40444975,”@Cansuumat @typz_rockrrrr hahahaha :d cansu hayiinrdir kendini eve kapatmaya mi karar verdin :p” 203974110034927617,51.01856342,5.4003515,”@Saadet_Colak @EsraAkkoc oooff kga slapee saadet :-) yusufu yeterince gordum bugun :p” 203994301204668416,51.01855977,5.40004187,”@gokalp61 geri unfollowliyacaksan bnde yaparim soylim simdiden ! Gecende yaptin oyle” 204271738899533824,51.03184223,5.37692326,”Mekanin spot isiklariyla kendimizi cizbiz edip bronzlasmak niyetindeyiz @dovecchio ile birlikte”
Coal Track
204339173623209985,51.01834113,5.39996241,”@TSinem61 Dm :)” 204492350280577024,51.01854184,5.4002127,”Gunaydiiinn :)” 204499275311353856,51.01844624,5.40016131,”@ht_61 gunaydiinnn :)” 204499978066993152,51.01854703,5.4001365,”@ht_61 iyim birazdan komsuma gececem altingunu var orda :) cesit cesit yemekler var kaciramam :p:)))”
In Houthalen Helchteren the coal track is still used for transporting good and people. Even though there a bicycle path borders the railway track, it forms a ‘blind spot’ on the social media map.
204501003968577537,51.0185736,5.40039903,”@ht_61 hahaha :)))) ayipsin sen benim yerime kofte yedin yapilan iyilikleri unutmamm :p tabiki senin icinde yerim :)” 204502483157000192,51.01855366,5.40054068,”@ht_61 yiyip icecem amaa yan gelip oturmicam is aramam lazim dua et bulayim:( sora grz gidiyorum smdi tmm hadi aeo :)” 204628870962495489,51.0309778,5.376977,”Why are doctors always too late!” 204650467987439616,51.02939882,5.37264368,”Critique lecture of @petertomjones about enhanced landfill mining consortium @cleantechpunt #inspiration #ecology #transition” 204785165975826432,51.0126,5.3717,”E314 (A2) Lummen richting Heerlen (Nl) tussen Houthalen-Helchteren en Maasmechelen #flitsBE” 204927509685485568,51.01830182,5.3999407,”@RamazanErdem61 abi ben bu viberdan bise anlamadim ariyorum 2 kere caliyor sora takiliyor :(“
[source picture: workshop KUL, 2016]
205185106619539456,51.01100445,5.37133637,”@smashingmag thanks for the lovely insight in yesterday’s speaking, job well done! #multimania #2M12Kortijk” 205312000421658624,51.01856736,5.40042744,”Evettt stage dan acaip iyi puanlar aldimm bugun cok iltifat ettiler kesin gectim :p” 205335002651688960,51.0188521,5.4007874,”@ozgurerden61 yok artk okadarda dgl haa :))ama hollywood yildizlarinin cogu icinde lil wayne kesinlikle icinde klibleri yeterince anlatiyo:)” 205344862097260546,51.0188452,5.4007335,”@ozgurerden61 hahaha valla hic ugrasamam simdi :))) halim yok hava pis sicak burda :(“
Today we see that the Grote Baan, that once was the main carrier for the urban development of Houthalen-Helchteren, acts like a barrier between east and west HH. Daily, the Grote Baan collects 45,000 vehicles, both local and regional traffic traveling in the north-south direction. Due to this large flux of traffic there is a lot of vacancy which isn’t stimulating for the urban and social dynamics.
Disconnected
North-south connection
From the seven mining municipalities in Central Limburg, the former mining cite Meulenberg in Houthalen is the only one that was physically disconnected from the mining extraction site. The only connection is the Koolmijnlaan. [source: From flux to
The federal Agency of Traffic and Roads (MOW) has planned a North-South highway to the west of Houthalen-Helchteren, in order to decongest the Grote Baan in HouthalenHelchteren from non-local traffic. But this ambitious project has already been on the table for decades
frame, Maarten Van Acker]
without concrete results. Spartacus
Old trade route
The Spartacusproject was initiated by De Lijn in order to improve the regional accessibility of Central Limburg by implementing an efficient public transport system consisting of 3 light-rail-lines. One on the lines ( Hasselt - Lommel) would cross HH. Currently the project is on hold. [Source : T.OP Limburg,
Since the Middle Ages, the Grote Baan has been an important trade connection between Hasselt and the north. [source: KUL Urbanism Studio 2015]
workshop NuVit, 2015 ]
The unemployment is specifically high in Meulenberg, a social housing area, located where the former mining cité used to be. The historical identity of the neighbourhood is closely linked with the mining activities. When the mines closed the neighbourhood lost its main focus. Today, Meulenberg houses people from many different nationalities and backgrounds. How to inscribe the social potential of Meulenberg in the circular economy? Meulenberg emerges as a strategic area to include in the transition to the circular economy, by creating local employment and activities related to clean tech.
Commuting The coal track was not only used for the transportation of coal but also as a means of transport between the garden cities and the mining sites. This picture from 1929 shows the commuting workers getting off at Winterslag. [source: rijksarchief Hasselt]
Village Meulenberg
Garden city
This research by design, initiated by the Flemish Bouwmeester, aims to enforce the existing ‘village feeling’ of Meulenberg as a way to find solutions to social-spatial problems that have been occurring.
Pictures of the orginal garden city (left) and an engineerhouse in Meulenberg. [source: mijn cite, Stebo, ]
[Source: study ‘Meulenberg dorp een wijk op zoek naar identiteit’, Dierendonckblancke L.u.s.t. , Haerynck Vanmeirhaeghe architecten, 2014]
Mining site HH [source: rijksarchief Hasselt]
Dynamo metal workshop
Facts Meulenberg
Dynamo is a community centre /metal-workshop, located in a social neighbourhood in Zurich, where young people can learn practical skills and get guidance when they want to start their own business.
3000 people are living in Meulenberg. 80%of the inhabitants have Moroccan or Turkish origins. 50% of the housing stock is rented out by the social housing company Kempisch Tehuis.
[source: http://www.rimo.be, Buurt- en opbouwwerk Meulenberg in Houtha-
[source: www.mimoa.eu]
Conflict Meulenberg often appears in the media due to fights or conflicts between inhabitants and police. [source: http://deredactie.be , Zwaargewonde agent Meulenberg ontwaakt uit coma, 2013] [source : http://www.hbvl.be, 2014]
RIMO Community Development This organisation wants to improve the social cohesion within the community of Meulenberg by organising neighbourhood scale activities and providing a platform for legal, social and educational advice.
[source: printscreen from http://www. rimo.be, Buurt- en opbouwwerk Meulenberg in Houthalen-Helchteren]
80%
VISIONS
METH O DOLOGY Does the territorial mapping of waste, water, energy and people uncover new possibilities for the urban metabolism of HouthalenHelchteren?
WATER
WASTE(D)
ENERGY
PEOPLE
How can Central Limburg’s resource landscape drive local development?
Regional landscape economy UNEMPLOYMENT WASTE MANAGEMENT - Composting ABANDONED INFRASTRUCTURES CLEAN TECHNOLOGY GEOTHERMAL HEAT BIOMASS RIVERS MINING SUBSIDENCES SEWERAGE
Sustainable mobility SOCIAL LIFE MOBILITY DENSITY
OVERSIZED INFRASTRUCTURES ABANDONED INFRASTRUCTURES REMO LANDFILL UNDERUSED INFRASTRUCTURES
SEWERAGE
V ISI ON 1 Observation of the existing
Remo Landfill
Pumping area
1
Throughout the former mining landscape, areas have sunk below the ground water level. The former mining company is still today pumping out water from these areas to prevent them from flooding.
One of the three remaining active landfills in Flanders is located in a former sand extraction area in Helchteren. An ambitious project of Enhanced Landfill Mining will soon (2018) convert waste from the landfill into hydrogen, plasmarock and water.
Clean Tech Campus
Oxidized water
3
A vacant plot between the new municipal building and clean tech incubator Greenville will be developed as a Clean Technology Campus, combining (co-)housing with a public park.
Meulenberg
4
As a result from the mining subsidences, water is standing still in the landscape. Because of the lack of movement of the water, the iron in the water is oxidizing and turning orange.
Laambroekvijvers
5
In this social housing area, located where the former mining cité used to be, (youth) unemployment is high. Kempisch Tehuis, the social housing agency, is planning to replace housing towers with semi-detached houses.
Buffer zone
2
6
These ponds used to provide process water to the mining complex of Houthalen. Because of its location in a swell zone, the water composition is one of its biggest ecological assets. The area attracts a number of water birds and insects because it is in a transition between open water and swamp to swampy forest.
7
The municipality is responsible for the maintenance of the ‘built free’ zones under high tension electricity lines. Trees that could grow higher than 3 meters can not be planted within 25 meters of both sides of the axis of the high tension lines; for safety reasons and in order to avoid later maintenance work.
Sludge Waste Limburg
Household Waste Limburg Europark
360,000 m³/year Het Wiek
4 MW
25 MW into Grid
Min ing Sub side nce zon
Aquafin Coal track Laambroekrijvers
Bionerga Centrum Zuid
Grote Baan
Breelaarheide
Meulenberg
Campine Plateau
e
remo Landfill
1
Grote Baan
2
Europark
4 Coal Track
7
Green Ville
3 5
Meulenberg
Centrum-Zuid
6
N 0
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 1
Resources
WATER ECONOMY
Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy
CLEANTECH ECONOMY
HYDROGEN
2030
k BIOMASS ECONOMY
h
cleantech startups
€
Genk Zuid
c te
support
i-cleantech Flanders
set up cle an
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville
Jobs
Raw Biological Materials Bio-mass Fertilizer
Jobs
l
HH
facilities
€
Hydrogen Plasma Rock
d hy
€
Jobs Education Programs Innovation Implementation
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
hydrogen
municipality
Provincie Limburg
Expansion Possibilities Facilities
ea
c te
in
RY
T
ec nt
h
h
Attractive Landscapes Jobs
Hydrogen Production Plant
US
ote local pr om cle a p cle o l e v an de
Industrial Water Pellets
ECONOMY
regional hydrog en ne tw hydrogen pro or du cti on
COA L TRACK IND
Community Benefits
innovation implementation
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
municipality
heat NMBS
new housing community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Toerisme Limburg startup expansion possibilities
jobs for industry reuse and ter lan wa d
Centrum Zuid
strat eg yp
WATER ECONOMY
ter recovery d wa pe um
NMBS
along coal track reuse for
Watergroep
TIMELINE: private gardens
nutrients, oils and fat, proteins
Centrum Zuid a r f in struc tur e
farmers
heat
e ap sc
industrial water
fertilizer
n creatio biomass h ub
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer
BIOMASS ECONOMY
€ location
VLM RLLK
municipality water
Europark €
pum
as are
municipality
ater from sub pw s
LRM
BY
biomass
biomass
Bionerga
Aquafin
cono my se as
attractive landscape De Wijers and along coaltrack
expansion bio m
Centrum Zuid
n ide ce
European Union
Four Landscapes mixed woodland
managed hedgerows
forested wetland
heath & heather
2016
2017
2020
2030
N 0
The first vision envisions HH as a leader in a regional landscape economy, benefiting from the landscape’s ‘wasted’ resources such as branches and cuttings from landscape maintenance. This vision connects to the already planned development of a biomass hub for collection and sorting of biomass and anchors this development in a local network of productive landscapes. The inclusion of HH’s landscapes in a local biomass economy creates a strong identity for HH as a culturally and territorially embedded clean tech municipality. One of the most qualitative and qualifying elements of the region, its stratified landscape functions again as a reference for the development of Houthalen-Helchteren. Job creation and synergies between clean tech and other parts of the municipality, such as the social housing area of Meulenberg are important elements of the agenda. Houthalen-Helchteren’s next diversified economy is based on clean tech, hydrogen, water and biomass.
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2016 Clean tech economy COA L TRACK IND
US
RY
T
lop clea deve n c te h
in
strategy for
d hy
HH
ro
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
€
nd
e ve
lo p m
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville support
e nt
municipality
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
Machiels Remo Facility
ge
OVAM
ject biomass hu pro b
Bionerga heat
WATER ECONOMY
Aquafin
location
RLLK
BIOMASS ECONOMY
Europark €
pum
as are
ater from sub pw s
LRM
municipality
European Union
n ide ce
Current investments in Cleantech in Houthalen are concentrated in the Clean tech campus on the former mining site. The incubator, Greenville managed to attractl companies that develop clean tech innovations such as smart food recycling bins, sophisticated clean tech refrigerators to grow herbs, etc. The research and innovation developed in Greenville could be brought outside of Greenville in Clean tech satellite loctions, in order to create clean tech related opportunities in the entire municipality. Why not experiment with food growing systems in the social housing estate of Meulenberg, where food culture and gardening is culturally considered important and till now, unemployment is high. Eventually (2018), clean tech becomes part of everyday life of every Houthalenaar.
Bio industries
Regional Landscape Waste Sludge Waste Limburg Europark | Biomassawerf 360,000 m³/year Het Wiek 4 MW Min
To De Wijers
ing Sub
Plasma rock: 30,000 t/y
H2 2018: 300 Kg/h 2020: 2.3 t/h
side nce zon
Water Drainage Aquafin Coal track Laambroekrijvers
Bio plant Centrum Zuid
Grote Baan
e
Biomass Pilot Project
Breelaarheide
Meulenberg
Campine Plateau
N 0
1 km
2 km
Revitalization of the abandoned tower building as a clean tech satellite location. The blank wall can be used as a billboard, a hub of activity in Meulenberg.
Temporal farming crates transform the parking lot in a multifunctional public space, while offering opportunities for interaction.
Billie Bin, a technology developed at Greenville is introduced as an example of local composting techniques. Local food market attracts people from outside the neigborhood to Meulenberg.
Collection system for garden waste for biomass hub at Europark.
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2016 Biomass economy A biomass hub for collection and sorting of biomass from the area (20km radius) is being developed in HouthalenHelchteren and this offers the opportunity to Houthalen-Helchteren to position itself as a pioneer in biomass economy. Clean tech in Greenville and Centrum-Zuid could use the biomass from the hub as raw materials in the development of clean technology. For example grass can be converted into cellulose or paper, wood chips into construction boards, â&#x20AC;Ś The varied landscapes around Houthalen each require specifique maintenance techniques and machinery. Together with Regional Landscape Low Campine (RLLK), a possible development cycle of a local biomass economy, drawing from the regional landscape is developed.
Biomassawerf Europark construction material
bioplastics
chemicals
wood products
furniture
biofibers
feed production fuels diesel / gasoline replacement
feed
heath
hardwood
hedgerows
softwood
sorting + collection
biorefinery
Biomass collection Meulenberg densification by Kempisch Tehuis
cargobike biomass collection Greenville innovation BillieBin
education
BIO
gardening
N 0
Water runoff along the industrial platform is improved. Pipes direct the excess water during heavy rainfall to the natural bufferzone in a controlled way.
The sandy soil allows for a more diverse production wood forest.
1 km
2 km
The wet forest has remainders of ancient hedgerows. These can be restored as a first step of integration in a productive wood cycle.
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2017 Water economy COA L TRACK IND
US
RY
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
T
lop clea deve n
HH
l
in
ea
c te h
d hy
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
h
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville support
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
set up cle an c te
€
innovation implementation
startup expansion possibilities
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
NMBS
new housing community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Centrum Zuid
jobs
n creatio biomass h ub
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer biomass
Bionerga
strat eg yp
ter recovery d wa pe um
WATER ECONOMY
municipality
heat € Aquafin
location
RLLK
BIOMASS ECONOMY
Europark €
pum
as are
municipality
ater from sub pw s
LRM
n ide ce
TION
European Union
Regional system
Subsidences
Clean Tech
De Wijers
municipality
N 0
High water volumes are pumped daily from the mining subsidence areas. They represent a substantial economic and ecological potential that is now wasted. Together with LRM, that remains responsible for pumping the excess water in the subsidence areas, the municipality could recover this water. It could be reused for industrial purposes as well as for landscape recharging (such as the downstream ponds of the Wijers that deal with water shortages during summertime). The coal track can host the infrastructure for this additional water source. Industrial areas as well as natural reserves along the coal track can then share this recovered water.
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2020
hydrogen pro du cti on
Water economy COA L TRACK IND RY
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
ea
c te
HH
l
in
h
T
ec nt
h
Hydrogen Production Plant
US
ote local pr om cle a p cle o l e v an de
d hy
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
c te
€
set up cle an h
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville support
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
innovation implementation
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
municipality
heat NMBS
new housing community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Toerisme Limburg startup expansion possibilities
expansion bio m
jobs
fertilizer
farmers
cono my se as
Centrum Zuid
heat private gardens
infrastruc
WATER ECONOMY
ter recovery d wa pe um
NMBS
along coal track reuse for
strat eg yp
n creatio biomass h ub
biomass
tur e
Watergroep
biomass
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer
Bionerga
€ Aquafin
location
RLLK
municipality
BIOMASS ECONOMY
Europark €
pum
as are
ater from sub pw s
LRM
municipality
n ide ce
European Union
Sludge Waste Limburg Europark | Biomassawerf 360,000 m³/year Het Wiek 4 MW Min
To De Wijers
ing
100℃
Sub side
30℃
nce zon
Water Drainage Hot Spring Aquafin Bio plant Coal track Laambroekrijvers
Geothermal
Centrum Zuid
Grote Baan
e
Biomass Pilot Project
Breelaarheide
Meulenberg
Campine Plateau
N 0
bike path
geothermal pipe
geothermal pool
coal track
1 km
2 km
TION
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2020
hydrogen pro du cti on
Clean tech economy COA L TRACK IND RY
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
ea
c te
HH
l
in
h
T
ec nt
h
Hydrogen Production Plant
US
ote local pr om cle a p cle o l e v an de
d hy
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
c te
€
set up cle an h
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville support
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
heat NMBS
new housing
innovation implementation
municipality
community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Toerisme Limburg startup expansion possibilities
expansion bio m
jobs
fertilizer
farmers
cono my se as
Centrum Zuid
heat private gardens
infrastruc
WATER ECONOMY
ter recovery d wa pe um
NMBS
along coal track reuse for
strat eg yp
n creatio biomass h ub
biomass
tur e
Watergroep
biomass
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer
Bionerga
€ Aquafin
location
RLLK
municipality
BIOMASS ECONOMY
Europark €
pum
as are
ater from sub pw s
LRM
municipality
n ide ce
European Union
Besides the clean tech campus, the Remo landfill in Houthalen is pioneering in a project of Enhanced Landfill Mining. From 2018 onwards, waste from the landfill will be converted to raw materials, water and hydrogen. For the transportation of hydrogen, a pipeline along the coal track would be beneficial in order to connect the hydrogen to industries along the coal track (such as Essers, Ikea, De Lijn in Genk), all the way to Genk Zuid, where Aperam, one of the big H2 users, is operational.
Sludge Waste Limburg Europark | Biomassawerf 360,000 m³/year Het Wiek 4 MW Min
To De Wijers
ing
100℃
Sub side
30℃
nce zon
Water Drainage Hot Spring Aquafin Bio plant Coal track Laambroekrijvers
Geothermal
Centrum Zuid
Grote Baan
e
Biomass Pilot Project
Breelaarheide
Meulenberg
Campine Plateau
N 0
1 km
Fully refurbished building offers space for a vibrant mix of functions and people. This greenhouse allows a bigger diversification of crops by creating a microclimate.. The greenhouse is heated with heat from a local composting installation.
Cooking classes and workskhops take place in the community kitchen. Participants learn important skills for future employment.
Greenville clean technology being tested in Meulenberg.
Community farming transforms the parking lot into an attractive and multifunctional public space.
2 km
TION
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2020
hydrogen pro du cti on
Biomass economy COA L TRACK IND RY
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
ea
c te
HH
l
in
h
T
ec nt
h
Hydrogen Production Plant
US
ote local pr om cle a p cle o l e v an de
d hy
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
h
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville support
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
c te
€
set up cle an
innovation implementation
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
municipality
heat NMBS
new housing community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Toerisme Limburg startup expansion possibilities
expansion bio m
jobs
fertilizer
farmers
cono my se as
Centrum Zuid
heat private gardens
infrastruc
WATER ECONOMY
ter recovery d wa pe um
NMBS
along coal track reuse for
strat eg yp
n creatio biomass h ub
biomass
tur e
Watergroep
biomass
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer
Bionerga
BIOMASS ECONOMY
€ Aquafin
location
RLLK
municipality
Europark €
pum
as are
ater from sub pw s
LRM
municipality
n ide ce
European Union
buffer zone Centrum Zuid phase 1
phase 2
phase 3
proposed Clean-tech offices low quality forest sandy soil
water storage and riparian landscape
short rotation forestry
extended rotation forest densification along Grote Baan short rotation forestry
landscape diversification hedgerow remnants wet soil
hedgerow intensification hedgerow restoration
water storage
N 0
A platform connects the plateau of Centrum-Zuid with the bufferzone.
A selective cutting process allows reintroduction of middle wood.
Open plains are selectively created for water buffering and sunlight in order to improve biodiversity and spatial quality.
The management of the restored hedgerows provide biomass to the biomass hub in Europark.
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 1 Houthalen-Helchteren, a leader in a regional landscape economy 2030
k
regional hydrog en ne tw hydrogen pro or du cti on
Biomass economy COA L TRACK IND RY
hydrogen pipe lin strategy for on gc ro oal tra c k ge ? nd e ve lo p m e nt Machiels Remo Facility
hydrogen
ea
c te
HH
l
in
h
T
ec nt
h
Hydrogen Production Plant
US
ote local pr om cle a p cle o l e v an de
d hy
municipality
Provincie Limburg
€
facilities
support
cleantech startups
€
i-cleantech Flanders
h
CLEANTECH CLEANTECH ECONOMY ECONOMY
Greenville
Genk Zuid
c te
€
set up cle an
innovation implementation
sa te llit e
Kempisch Tehuis
HYDROGEN HYDROGEN ECONOMY ECONOMY
loc atio ns in HH
municipality
heat NMBS
new housing community of Houthalen-Helchteren
OVAM
Toerisme Limburg startup expansion possibilities
jobs for industry reuse and ter lan wa d
Centrum Zuid
WATER ECONOMY
ter recovery d wa pe um
NMBS
along coal track reuse for
Watergroep
strat eg yp
private gardens nutrients, oils and fat, proteins
Centrum Zuid a r f in struc tur e
n creatio biomass h ub
biomass
Bionerga
€ Aquafin
location
BIOMASS ECONOMY
VLM RLLK water
Europark €
pum
municipality
ater from sub pw s
as are
biomass
Agentschap Natuur en Bos Limburg ject biomass hu pro b Biomass Hub fertilizer
municipality
LRM
farmers
heat
e ap sc
industrial water
fertilizer
cono my se as
attractive landscape De Wijers and along coaltrack
expansion bio m
Centrum Zuid
n ide ce
European Union
Sludge Waste Limburg Europark | Biomassawerf 360,000 m³/year Het Wiek
Min ing
100℃
Sub side
30℃
nce zon
Water Drainage Hot Spring Aquafin Bio plant Coal track Laambroekrijvers
Geothermal
Centrum Zuid
Grote Baan
e
Biomass Pilot Project
Breelaarheide
Meulenberg
Campine Plateau
N 0
The bufferzone is a fantastic spot for lunchbreak for the people working at CentrumZuid.
1 km
2 km
Bird watchers can enjoy the increased bird species in this rich restored ecosystem.
The ecological value of the bufferzone is explained to visitors and inhabitants.
Clean Technology developed in Greenville is being tested on site.
The restored hedgerows frame new developments in the bufferzone: a public space along the Grote Baan and new commercial buildings in sync with the ecological buffer zone.
V ISI ON 2 Observation of the existing
Abandoned viaduct
1
A local railway network from the mid 20th century (buurtspoorwegen) has disappeared. Nature has taken over and has transformed this viaduct into a ‘planted’ elevated forest.
Coal Track
The industrial area of Centrum Zuid is clearly designed for trucks and cars. Roads are oversized, while space for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as public spaces are limited and poorly designed.
2
Where the railway line 18 used to branch off the coal railway track, there is now a bicycle path. It passes under the overgrown viaduct from the local railway network.
3
Grote Baan
5
The Grote Baan is one of the first regional connections between Hasselt and the north. Today it is still practically the only NorthSouth connection. 45,000 vehicles pass through HouthalenHelchteren’s Grote Baan daily, causing a lot of nuisances such as noise, pollution and traffic congestion.
The intersection of the Coal Track and the Stationsstraat, is where the station used to be. Today it is a vacant area, bordered by the coal track bicycle path.
Centrum Zuid
Vanished Rail line
4
remo Landfill
Grote Baan
Europark
2 Coal Track
1
4
3
Green Ville
5
Meulenberg
Centrum-Zuid
N 0
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 2
ECONOMIC OUTPUTS: Community Benefits GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility
MOBILITY SWITCH
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
2030
Jobs Small Businesses New Investors Jobs Small Businesses New Investors Real Estate Developers Researchers Jobs Small Businesses New Investors Hydrogen Vehicles
TIMELINE: BY 2016 industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
€
Limburg Province
real estate companies
RLLK
ng
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
NMBS
Helchteren ca alenr-fre uth e? o H and regional bi a i r cyc e nsf l tra
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN ar streets lo w c DU ass harves S ti bio m
2017
in g
MOW/AWV €
biomass
€
inhabitants
mobility net soft wo rk
Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
seperate buslane
De Lijn municipality
hyd rog en
g
n tio sta as
Centrum Zuid
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve
hydrogen
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
€ NMBS
European Union
OVAM
hydrogen
Ford Genk
2020
2030
N 0
HH as a pioneer in sustainable mobility, proposes a phased mobility switch, that gives the highly congested center of HH breathing space, while at the same time generating qualitative public spaces and soft mobility networks. A requalification of the Grote Baan lies at the heart of this vision. The Grote Baan has always been an important trade connection between Hasselt and the north. The Grote Baan acts today however also as a brutal barrier between east and west HH. Daily, the north south directed Grote Baan collects 45,000 vehicles, both local and regional traffic. The Agency of Traffic and Roads (MOW) has planned a North-South highway to the west of HouthalenHelchteren to canalize the regional traffic. This will decongest the Grote Baan. 25,000 of the vehicles using the Grote Baan today are nevertheless local movements. This vision proposes a gradual but not less radical modal shift to soft mobility forms, such as (e)bikes and improved public transport system.
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2016 Grote Baan Reconversion
real estate companies
MOBILIT Y IN DU S s ng
ross safe c i
TR Y
â&#x201A;Ź
mobility net soft wo rk
inhabitants
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
municipality
schools
municipality
str at
egy
fo r h y
d ro g e n d e
ve
ent m p lo
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
â&#x201A;Ź OVAM
European Union
In a first phase, the crossroads between the (north south) Grote Baan and the east west connecting streets are made more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The interventions can vary from painting a pink public square that crosses the Grote Baan, to installing lightweight pedestrian and bicycle bridges across the road. These interventions set the stage for a gradual mobility shift. They draw attention from both inhabitants and passersby and indicate that the Grote Baan is more than just a linear high speed connection. At the same time schools and parents are stimulated to support home-school trajectories by foot or bicycle. When the dangerous Grote Baan can be crossed without safety concerns, parents should be happy to not drop off their kids at school by car.
N 0
1 km
2 km
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2017
ON
Kolenspoor entry - soft mobility industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
nd regional b ria a icy sfe cl n a r t
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
NMBS
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN DU S
Limburg Province
in g €
mobility net soft wo rk
inhabitants Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
municipality
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
€ NMBS
European Union
In a next step, the soft mobility network in HouthalenHelchteren is enhanced: safer and better bicycle paths, connecting interesting garden areas and weaving the different parts of Houthalen-Helchteren together. The many open green spaces become part of an attractive chain that guides movement.The regional coal track bicycle network opens a new branch entering Centrum-Zuid and the clean tech campus, announcing a new bicycle ‘gateway’ for HH from the east. Along the Koolmijnlaan, transferia organize the switch from cars to shared cars. Attractive new forms of public transportat are put in place. People and goods now enter the Grote Baan through non-motorized or collective transport. The Grote Baan no longer is a rupture. It can start to unite, link and connect.
OVAM
hydrogen
Ford Genk
N 0
1 km
2 km
A linear bioswale increases water buffering capacity, while ading a qualitative landscape feature along the new entry path.
The first trees are planted by the community, creating a sense of ownership. Concrete guard tubes provide space for the placement of electricity cables for lighting in a later stage of development.
Streetlights are placed along the entryway to Centrum-Zuid.
Native heath landscapes are restored. Because of the impermeable schist subsurface, water can be naturally stored on site.
The schist that is dug to create tree pits is kept on site, creating microtopographies.
A mobility transferium that combines different transportation alternatives.
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2017
ON
Grote Baan Reconversion industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
nd regional b ria a icy sfe cl n a r t
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
NMBS
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN DU S
Limburg Province
in g â&#x201A;Ź
mobility net soft wo rk
inhabitants Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
Ford Genk
municipality
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve
hydrogen
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
â&#x201A;Ź NMBS
European Union
Downgrading the Grote Baan phase 1
phase 2
OVAM
At the same time, the Grote Baan can gradually be reprofiled. De-commissioned asphalt strips are transformed into water absorbing bioswales. Disconnecting storm water from the stressed sewage system releases pressure from the sewage system. Bioswales are an evident alternative solution that simultaneously adds to the ecological and spatial quality of the environment.. Schools, youth groups and community organizations are involved in the breaking up of the asphalt and the planting of trees along the Grote Baan. This way, the new Grote Baan becomes a common project of the HouthalenHelchteren community. They enforce the mobility shift in Houthalen-Helchteren. By 2018, the Remo Landfill in Helchteren will produce and export hydrogen through a hydrogen pipeline from Remo along the coal track till Centrum Zuid where an easy connection to the highway system is realized.
phase 3
N 0
The first trees along the Grote Baan are planted with the community.
1 km
2 km
Birches and poplars, fast growing pioneer trees, are planted to accelerate to image a of reprofiled Grote Baan.
Kicking off the transformation of the Grote Baan with a local event. The crossroad is painted in red to define a shared space for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
Bioswales collect and buffer rain water, while creating a dynamic landscape along the Grote Baan.
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2020
ON
Kolenspoor entry - transferium industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
RLLK
ng
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
NMBS
Helchteren ca alenr-fre uth e? o H and regional bi a i r cyc e nsf l tra
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN DU ass harves S ti bio m
Limburg Province
in g
MOW/AWV €
biomass
€
inhabitants
mobility net soft wo rk
Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
municipality
hyd rog en
g
n tio sta as
Centrum Zuid
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve
hydrogen
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
€ NMBS
European Union
Imagine that in 2020 the North South highway is finally constructed. The Koolmijnlaan then not only becomes the new entryway for trucks to the industry area CentrumZuid, but also to Houthalen. A fully developed transferium spine prevents truck traffic to take the Grote Baan. By then, the ‘soft entry’ to the Clean Tech Campus from the Coal Track is further developed with a bicycle sharing station. A variety of public spaces and programs are anchored on this new entry. At the crossing of the coal track and the Stationsstraat, a new hydrogen gas station is put in place, tapping off hydrogen from the H2 pipeline, feeding a local hub for hydrogen based transportation.
OVAM
hydrogen
Ford Genk
N 0
1 km
2 km
Temporary housing contributes to mixed uses in Centrum-Zuid. Flower fields create colourful dynamic landscapes. Local water management is integrated in the landscape design.
Patches of asphalt are preserved and turned into flexible open spaces.
Fitness equipment encourages a healthy lifestyle along the slow route through Centrum-Zuid.
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2020
ON
Grote Baan Reconversion industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
RLLK
ng
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
NMBS
Helchteren ca alenr-fre uth e? o H and regional bi a i r cyc e nsf l tra
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN DU ass harves S ti bio m
Limburg Province
in g
MOW/AWV €
biomass
€
inhabitants
mobility net soft wo rk
Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
municipality
hyd rog en
g
n tio sta as
Centrum Zuid
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve
hydrogen
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
€ NMBS
European Union
By 2020 the trees along the Grote Baan are large enough to be harvested as biomass that can be collected and sorted in the new biomass hub at Europark. 2 of the 4 former traffic lanes are liberated from traffic and can hence accommodate new programs. One lane is given entirely to the new, up to date public transport system. The radical requalification of the road supports the gradual intensification and densification around the Grote Baan
OVAM
hydrogen
Ford Genk
N 0
A former car-lane is broken up to create more room water and vegetation.
The plantings of fast growing trees are alternating with slower maturing trees like birches and oaks.
Gradually, the space for cars on the Grote Baan is diminished. Curving lanes and planted ‘micro’-forests slow down the traffic.
The ‘red’ square is futher developed with water elements, benches, climbing racks, ...
The remaining asphalt serves as a bus lane for a more efficient public transportation service along the Grote Baan.
1 km
2 km
The fully grown trees have invaded the Grote Baan and its surroundings.
V ISI ON 2 Houthalen-Helchteren, a pioneer in sustainable mobility 2030
ON
Grote Baan Reconversion industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
€
Limburg Province
real estate companies
RLLK
ng
TR Y
Centrum Zuid
s ng
fil ro
Baan re Gro te p o s r s c i safe
industrial and commercial train line along the coaltrack
ork etw en
MOBILIT Y IN ar streets lo w c DU ass harves S ti bio m
NMBS
Helchteren ca alenr-fre uth e? o H and regional bi a i r cyc e nsf l tra
in g
MOW/AWV €
biomass
€
inhabitants
mobility net soft wo rk
Toerisme Limburg
GROTE BAAN RECONVERSION
MOBILITY SWITCH
attractive waterscape municipality
NMBS
Watergroep
schools
seperate buslane
De Lijn municipality
hyd rog en
g
n tio sta as
Centrum Zuid
? hydr ack og ltr en a co pip e str ent li n e a l o n g ate m p gy f lo o r h y d ro g e n d e ve
hydrogen
municipality Machiels Remo Facility
HYDROGEN DISTRIBUTION
€ NMBS
European Union
A complete re-profiling transformed the Grote Baan from a hard and dangerous traffic barrier into a pedestrian and bicycle friendly planted boulevard. The trees are included in a local productive biomass cycle. Besides generous public spaces, room for bicycles and pedestrians, space has been assigned to public transport. The accommodation of urban life both in terms of flows, soft mobility and housing along the recycled Grote Baan avoids further soil consumption for urbanization.
OVAM
hydrogen
Ford Genk
N 0
The bike paths are further integrated into the regional cycling network that crosses Limburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse landscapes.
The Grote Baan as a shared space for cyclists, pedestrians and cars. A new centrality for Houthalen-Helchteren.
Attractive public spaces in combination with great public transportation, boosts development along the Grote Baan.
Water and vegetation create a nice biotope for animals and humans, with a cooling effect in summer.
More asphalt is removed, leaving two single lanes for the bus and other users.
1 km
2 km
The pioneer trees are harvested as biomass. They make room for beeches and oaks that will define the new Grote Baanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image.