Four months after Confidence : what have we achieved?
This is an article from our partner Wetterwaarmte.
Last April Confidence the first edition of Confidence : a conference in which pioneers, experts, and policymakers worked together on the future of collective heating. Four months later, we take stock: what have we achieved and where are we headed?
Trust as a foundation
During Confidence , one question took center stage: how do we build trust in collective heating? "Denmark has been demonstrating for decades that heating networks can be reliable, affordable, and sustainable," says Andries Metz, project leader for aquathermal energy and collective heating at the Province of Fryslân. "There is a great deal of trust, practical experience, and insight there. We would like to bring that to Fryslân as well."
In five interactive workshops, participants tackled current issues ranging from technology and finance to governance and participation. The results have now been compiled in a report that forms the basis for follow-up steps in Fryslân.
Key insights
1. From neighborhood to master plan
In Súdwest-Fryslân, Confidence made Confidence that a municipality-wide strategy works better than separate neighborhood plans. The motto here is "plan big, start small": start in the most promising areas and use the proceeds to gradually connect less profitable areas. This significantly increases the potential.
2. Robust financial models
An important result of Confidence the development of a new financial tool. This allows municipalities to calculate scenarios, plan cash flows, and make links with the future Guarantee Fund for heating networks. It gives confidence to both financiers and residents.
3. Learning from Denmark
In Denmark, both villages and cities are succeeding in making their heating companies profitable: from Sønder Felding with 1,400 inhabitants to Copenhagen with 638,000 inhabitants. Their success factor? Flexibility: multiple sources, large buffers, and smart responses to electricity prices. The Netherlands can learn from this.
4. Trust as the key
Whether it concerns residents, council members, or entrepreneurs: trust is crucial. Transparency about costs and benefits, regular information sessions, and clear decision-making moments strengthen support. Danish practice shows that this works, and Fryslân is now translating this into its own approach.
Collective warmth has a deeper meaning
“Perhaps the most important insight is that collective heating does more than just solve a problem,” explains Metz. “It is a facility that provides comfort, preserves the spatial image, and can be controlled collectively. That makes it more complicated, but also more valuable.” And above all, it ties in nicely with our sense of community.
A Frisian example for the Netherlands
This means that the Frisian approach fits in seamlessly with the lessons learned in Denmark. "Our areas are comparable," emphasizes Metz. "We can learn from this and turn it into a real Frisian example."
The first edition of Confidence therefore Confidence more than just knowledge sharing: there are now concrete tools available to shape the heat transition locally. From municipal heating companies to smart calculation tools, from plans to implementation.
Looking ahead: from knowledge to concrete projects
Confidence just the beginning. In September 2025, we will launch Confidence : a capacity-building program lasting approximately one year. With a broader network, including Frisian housing associations, more municipalities, and the banking sector, we will delve into the question of how we can make concrete cases, such as the one in Bolsward, financially feasible. During this program, we will combine online workshops with a physical deep dive in Copenhagen, where we will learn directly from Danish examples.
And we are looking further ahead. With Confidence , we want to support projects in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands until the actual investment decision for new heat networks is made. We will make the lessons we learn from this scalable so that they can also be applied in other regions. This process will take three years, provided that the European Union approves the plan. But even without that support, we will continue to seek ways to realize this ambition.
"This is just the beginning; with this drive, we can achieve a great deal."
