WaterWarmth Podcast Series: No. 2 - "Yes, in my Backyard! - How local energy communities are powering the green heat transition"

Hot and Cool topics on District Heating and Cooling

"How are local communities reshaping Europe’s heat transition? In this WaterWarmth episode, Danish and Belgian pioneers share how citizen cooperatives and Aqua Thermal Energy projects—from backyard ponds to large-scale platforms—are driving sustainable, locally owned heating solutions."

Across Europe, citizens are taking energy into their own hands—literally in their own backyards. In this episode of the WaterWarmth podcast, we explore how local energy communities and cooperatives are driving forward Aqua Thermal Energy (ATE) and district heating solutions.

Our guests:

• Morten Westergaard, Special Climate and Energy Advisor, Middelfart Municipality (Denmark)
• Joachim Vanwalleghem, Project Coordinator, Energent (Belgium)

Together, they share stories of both small “Mickey Mouse” pilots and large “elephant-scale” initiatives, showing how communities are leading the way to decarbonize heat, strengthen resilience, and ensure local ownership of the green transition.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Middelfart’s pond-powered pilot became a beacon for community-driven heating solutions.
• Why Energent grew from a handful of citizens to one of Europe’s largest energy cooperatives with over 2,500 members.
• The unique value of energy communities: local commitment, democratic governance, and long-term thinking.
• Why district heating—and Aqua Thermal Energy in particular—is always a local story.
• Funding challenges and opportunities: from capital calls to the need for public guarantees.
• Profit vs. purpose—how stability and long-term returns are reshaping the idea of value.
• Practical advice for communities: start small, build networks, and celebrate every victory.

Whether you’re a policymaker, a city planner, or simply curious about the future of heating, this episode is full of insights on how communities are reshaping Europe’s energy landscape—one backyard at a time.

🔗 Listen now and discover why the future of heat is local.

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Meet the Guests (00:01:00)

3. Mickey Mouse vs. Elephant Projects (00:02:00)

4. How Energy Communities Work (00:04:00)

5. Local Ownership in the Green Transition (00:07:30)

6. WaterWarmth Pilot Projects (00:09:30)

7. Getting Started with Aqua Thermal Energy (00:12:00)

8. Challenges and Bureaucracy (00:15:00)

9. From Mickey Mouse to Elephant (00:16:30)

10. Financing the Future (00:18:00)

11. Profit vs. Purpose (00:22:00)

12. The Role of Government Support (00:25:00)

13. Final Advice (00:26:30)

14. Closing (00:28:00)