Going Dutch: powering The Hague with a smarter kind of energy
The Hague: an international city of peace, justice… and now, decentralised energy. We’re energising this global hub of diplomacy with smart, local solutions – turning old industry into future-forward infrastructure.
Nestled along the North Sea, The Hague – though officially called Den Haag, the locals often refer to it as ‘s-Gravenhage, literally: ‘The Counts’ Hedge’ – has long been the Netherlands' centre of governance and international diplomacy. Home to the Dutch government, the royal family and institutions like the International Court of Justice, the city is widely recognised as the international city of peace and justice.
Yet, beyond its historic corridors of power, The Hague is charting a bold course toward sustainability. The city has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, a commitment even reflected in its recent decision to ban fossil fuel advertisements in public spaces(1) (a sure sign that you'll find more posters for bike lanes than petrol cars).
Amidst this green transformation lies the Trekvliet zone, tucked away in the Binckhorst district – once a gritty industrial patch, now being reimagined as one of the most exciting urban energy experiments in Europe.
Once characterised by warehouses and factories, the Trekvliet zone is undergoing a metamorphosis. Together with our partners at Heijmans, E.ON is helping to shape this transformation through a bold, long-term commitment. Over the next 15 years, this area will be revitalised into a vibrant, sustainable neighbourhood with up to 7,500 homes and around 110,000 square metres of space for offices, shops, and restaurants.
And central to this redevelopment is the implementation of E.ON’s innovation-driven, sustainable heating and cooling system – ectogrid™.
Harnessing local resources for energy
At the heart of the project, ectogrid™ is a smart energynetwork that shares heating and cooling between buildings based on what they actually need, when they need it. Rather than each home or business relying on its own boiler or chiller, ectogrid™ creates a shared loop of energy – balancing supply and demand in real time and minimising the amount of ‘new’ energy being fed into the system.
We’re already delivering this technology in projects across Europe – including Medicon Village in Sweden and the groundbreaking Silvertown development bringing 6,000 new homes to East London. The Hague now joins this growing list of forward-thinking cities leading the way on smart, low-carbon infrastructure.
Turning everyday sources into clean energy
What makes this project truly unique is its clever use of the local environment, tapping into nearby low-temperature heat sources – including surface water and even drinking water – to support the district’s heating and cooling needs. It’s a clever, sustainable way to turn everyday resources that might otherwise go to waste into useable energy.
Once built, our team at Essent will operate the system and supply sustainable heating and cooling for 30 years.
It’s a bold solution with a long-term impact – one that fits with The Hague’s ambitions to create climate-resilient communities powered by renewable energy. And as the city continues to evolve, there’s room to connect existing buildings too – ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to greener, cleaner energy.