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Newsletter October 2012: Sustainable Building
Newsletter October 2012: Sustainable Building
Preface
Dear Reader and Cleantech Friends,
This newsletter is dedicated to sustainable building. Our focus is not only on individual builders or
industrial buildings; practical aspects such as glass and insulation are also treated. A sustainable city,
however, is more than a collection of sustainable homes. Hence we are also focusing on urban
developments in the area of climate neutrality, such as the transition to a truly sustainable, green city. In
this, Flemish and Belgian companies are again demonstrating their cleantech clout in Flanders,
Europe and the rest of the world, and illustrating their vision of a sustainable solution to a global
problem.
One place where you can gain hands-on experience of these aspects of sustainable building and living
is Kamp C, the Antwerp Provincial Centre for Sustainable Building and Living. Flanders is thus
positioning itself as a cohesive cluster of demo, production and knowledge facilities. This was recently
emphasised again with the official start of i-Cleantech Vlaanderen (ICTV) in Ostend, in the presence of
Minister Lieten and the five provincial governors.
Dirk Fransaer
Interim Manager Flanders Cleantech Association
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Get inspired
Province of Antwerp applies cleantech development to sustainable building
Recently launched i-Cleantech Vlaanderen aims to give a new impetus to the Flemish cleantech
sector. By working together closely with provincial antennas, each with a clear focal point, a choice
has been made for an intelligent collaboration model. The Antwerp provincial antenna Kamp C
focuses on sustainable building. “The sum of all provinces is greater than five.”
The building sector was chosen as spearhead for the Province of Antwerp.
A logical choice?
Peter-Paul van den Berg, director of Kamp C, the Antwerp Provincial Centre for
Sustainable Building and Living: “Economic studies show that the building
sector is one of the sectors with the greatest added value in the Province of
Antwerp. The Flemish building sector provides work for approximately 115,000
employees and 30,000 self-employed. The fact that approximately 37,000 of
these employees and 6,700 self-employed are active in the Province of
Antwerp, already says enough.”
“Thanks to the Flemish initiatives DuWoBo and the transition arenas that were set up around
sustainable building, the transition to sustainability within the building sector is further along than in
other sectors. We have an extensive Flemish and provincial network in the building sector. In the ten
years of its existence, Kamp C has succeeded in developing wide-ranging activities and quality support
for its target groups. Thus, our networking function between the different parties – private individuals,
building professionals and local governments – is already extensively developed.”
Your role of provincial antenna in the context of i-Cleantech is new. What does this function entail?
Peter-Paul van den Berg: “As linchpin in the diverse networks around sustainable building, we are
continually looking for new partnerships: with schools, research institutions, umbrella organisations
and community-based organisations, with municipalities and the business community. Because we
are an independent and neutral player, we are able to approach all the various actors in the building
sector. Thus, for example, today we are already leading the Province of Antwerp's Sustainable Building
Network, which unites education (Thomas More University College), research (VITO), business
federations (the Belgian building confederation Confederatie Bouw, sector organisation for chemicals
and life sciences essenscia), companies, public housing and the Province of Antwerp. Kamp C uses
this network to continually provide impulses to take stock of innovative cleantech processes and
communicate these within the business community. ‘Link up with the front runners, and your company
is guaranteed a future’, is our message. The Kamp C site is also an incubator for young cleantech
companies in the building sector.”
What in fact do companies actually need? And how can i-Cleantech help with its provincial
antennas?
Edward Vleminckx, managing director of Group Infrabo and chair of the Flanders Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (VOKA) Kempen South: “In the numerous sustainable initiatives available,
many companies often no longer see the wood for the trees. The aim of i-Cleantech is to be the
linchpin for, and give a face to, these kinds of initiatives. It is good that Kamp C – which already was a
meeting place for the building sector in the Province of Antwerp for training, seminars, congresses and
research – is now being confirmed in this role. If we succeed via i-Cleantech and the provincial
antennas in bringing to our province best practices from other sectors, this of course is a good thing.”
“Cleantech all too often is still approached from a strongly individual perspective, making it, in effect,
invisible. A number of companies are aware of its benefits. Thus VOKA has already launched a number
of good initiatives. VOKA Kempen, for example, is presently taking an inventory of the wind energy
projects in the district of Turnhout. Smart Grids Flanders, an initiative of among others the partnership
VOKA-Flemish Economic Alliance (VEV), unites companies in the aim to roll out a smart electricity
network, first in Flanders, thereafter internationally.”
The Province of Antwerp attaches great importance to cleantech.
Cathy Berx, governor of the Province of Antwerp: “Indeed. The Province of Antwerp is investing fully in
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initiatives that link government, companies and the education/knowledge sector as supporters of a
cleantech society. The partnership with i-Cleantech, our framework agreement with VITO and the
further development of the science park Waterfront are concrete examples of this. Another good
example is the support of young and innovative companies via Kamp C and the European Business
and Innovation Centre Innotek. Innotek manages the Technology Centres in Antwerp and Mol, with a
strong focus on incubation, new business and high quality employment.”
How does the i-Cleantech model help in this?
Cathy Berx: “The focus on sustainable building, chosen by the Province of Antwerp, also unites other
focal points: sustainable materials, energy and water management. i-Cleantech also attaches much
importance to the leveraging effect that can be created via the partnership with other provinces. This is
a very intelligent model. Antwerp aims in the future to gradually develop where possible toward a
climate neutral province and a closed-loop economy. Given the intensive industrial character of our
province, this represents a major challenge. It presupposes a large support base, especially among
industry and companies. The experience and know-how of the Province of Limburg can help
substantially. I view dialogue among the provinces as a major prerequisite for the growth of cleantech
in Flanders.”
i-Cleantech: the model
On 1 October 2012, i-Cleantech Vlaanderen (ICTV) first saw
the light of day. What is the aim of this new non-profit
organisation?
Bart Vercoutere, managing director of i-Cleantech: “For
ecological and economic reasons, Europe and Flanders wish to
accelerate the development and implementation of cleantech. We aim
to be a catalyst in this. We are focusing on the techniques and
technologies themselves (e.g. sustainable vehicle technology) as well
as on the systems. Being stuck in traffic with a cleantech car makes no
sense, so we must also redefine the concept of mobility. The so-called
‘quadruple helix’ model of society is at the centre of this approach. We
aim in our activities to bring together the knowledge sector,
government, the business community and the citizen.”
The i-Cleantech model is constructed around provincial antennas. Why this type of
partnership?
Bart Vercoutere: “The provinces have very good local contacts: with companies, communitybased organisations and local governments. What's more, they also have ambitions such as
climate neutrality that require knowledge and expertise. Distributing the tasks across the
provinces creates a major impetus with respect to knowledge, development and innovation.
The Flemish cleantech programme focuses on sustainable energy management, materials
management, mobility and water management. Each province has an overview of all topics, but
zooms in on a specific theme. This also opens up possibilities for local companies to more
quickly discover opportunities throughout Flanders.”
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Companies in the spotlight
The Bostoen Group was established in 1982. For years, the Drongen-based family business has
stood for quality residences at a price affordable to the average Flemish family. Bostoen focuses both
on a favourable price-quality ratio and the individual wishes of the customer. Since 2009, Bostoen is
especially known for its corporate social responsibility. Since then, the company builds only passive
houses. Bostoen is thus confirming its pioneering role on the Flemish and European new construction
market, with a clear vision for the future.
Bostoen Group engages in two different activities: ‘Bostoen, The Passive House’ and ‘+Home, Less
energy, more comfort’. The first component ‘Bostoen, The Passive House’ stands for passive new
construction, for both architectural houses tailored to the needs of the customer, as well as for housing
projects with passive residences and apartments by Bostoen.
Energy-efficient total solution
In addition to its passive new construction activities, the Bostoen Group also offers an energy-efficient
total solution for existing residences under the brand +Home. This solution results in ‘Less energy,
more comfort’. Which means greater living comfort, less energy use and thus a significantly lower
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energy bill. Products offered include solar panels, windows and doors, condensing boilers, heat
pumps and boilers, water softeners, and roof and wall insulation. After an analysis of each individual
residence (+Home Pass), +Home delivers a total solution for each customer. Implementation can be
done all at once or in phases.
Thus the Bostoen Group has evolved from a turnkey family business into a vertically structured supplier
to the housing market. What's more, it is the reference for environmentally-friendly housing solutions.
Stephan Bostoen, CEO of Bostoen Group: “Everyone knows that fossil energy is not inexhaustible. It is
becoming ever more expensive and it is a severe burden on the environment. The solution is energyefficient living. This is the essence of our passive concept.”
Stephan Bostoen, CEO of Bostoen Group:
“Everyone knows that fossil energy is not inexhaustib le. It is b ecoming ever
more expensive and it is a severe b urden on the environment. The solution is
energy-efficient living. This is the essence of our passive concept.”
Website: http://www.bostoen.be/
Click here for the full profile of Bostoen in the FCA cleantech guide.
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SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS BELGIUM
The history of Saint-Gobain started in France in 1665 when the ‘Royal Glass Works’ was
established. Since then, the Saint-Gobain Group has expanded worldwide to become the
international leader on habitat and construction markets, providing a wide range of innovative
solutions to save energy and protect the environment. With 42.1 billion Euros of sales in 2011,
Saint-Gobain operates in 64 countries and has nearly 195,000 employees.
Gyproc, the market leader and reference for plasterboards in Belgium, became part of the SaintGobain Group in 2005. Gyproc is located in the Port of Antwerp, from where the Belgian, the
Dutch and part of the French market is served.
Cradle to Cradle
Sustainability is in Gyproc’s DNA. For more than 50 years already, Gyproc has been committed
to the welfare of its customers, its employees and the environment by delivering innovative and
high-quality building systems. The resource for its products, gypsum, is a fully recyclable
material, which makes it perfectly suitable for a Cradle to Cradle approach. This opportunity was
identified in 2008 as a cornerstone of Gyproc’s innovation strategy. After a thorough evaluation
and optimization of its production process, Gyproc received in 2011 a Cradle to Cradle Silver
Certificate for the standard Gyproc A plasterboard, which represents 30% of its yearly produced
volume. The independently accredited C2C-certificate proves Gyproc’s commitment to
sustainable energy and material use, in which recycling plays a key role.
Gyproc’s gypsum recycling strategy not only focuses on the reuse of production waste. Also
volumes of gypsum from construction and demolition waste, which are collected and transferred
for processing to the Gyproc plant, are steadily increasing. Currently, recycled gypsum accounts
for 10% of the yearly processed volume. In the coming years, Gyproc wants to raise that
percentage to at least 20%, and evolve to what is called a ‘closed loop’.
The Gyproc Cradle to Cradle approach is a clear signal to the construction industry where the
focus shifts more and more to a thoughtful use of healthy materials, with attention for re-use and
recycling at the end of the product’s life-cycle. As a plasterboard manufacturer, Gyproc fully
recognizes and supports this evolution, and wants to contribute to the development of a
sustainable building sector, based on a new circular economic model.
Rini Quirijns, Managing Director at Saint-Gobain Construction
Products Belgium NV/SA:
“As a leader in the Belgian construction products sector, the goal of
Gyproc is to continuously meet the evolving needs of our customers, with
respect for European and international environmental regulations and
standards. Since our sector is facing tremendous challenges regarding
energy consumption and material use, a sustainable and innovative
approach to business development is the only pathway to success.”
Website: http://www.gyproc.be/
Click here for the full profile of Gyproc in the FCA cleantech guide.
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For more than forty years, Microtherm NV has been active in the production and sales of highperformance insulation materials. These products are based on a microporous mixture composed of
amorphous silica particles, fibres and radiation inhibitors, optionally covered in cloth or a hermetic
coating.
They are primarily used in devices that require an insulating shell with a minimum thickness or very
low thermal conductivity (less than 25 mW/m.K). Think of ovens, heaters, refrigerators … for industrial
as well as household use.
There are also interesting applications in more high-tech domains such as aerospace, the
petrochemical and steel industries, transport and energy production. Insulation performance is
temperature dependent, but much less so than with other traditional insulation materials. In the case of
very high temperatures (above 1000°C), 40 MW/m.K remains possible. And the product is
nonflammable, making it also effective in fire protection applications.
Vacuum Insulation Panel
If the microporous mixture is located in a vacuum, insulation performance increases significantly. This
is called a Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP). At room temperature, the insulating performance of a VIP is
less than 5 mW/m.K at 1 mbar internal pressure (in the middle of the panel). This vacuum concept
does place special and strict requirements on the encapsulating coating with respect to moisture and
gas permeability. VIPs are already used for diverse low temperature applications such as refrigerators
and cold-storage rooms. However, there are also many more possibilities for the construction market.
Changes to Microtherm's business structure should ensure its continued successful entry into the
construction market. The company, via Promat International NV, is now a part of the Etex Group.
Recently Etex also acquired Lafarge Gypsum SA. Etex aims to become a world leader in creative and
innovative solutions for the building industry, by combining the building products in its portfolio with
Microtherm's high-grade insulation materials (VIP).
Filip Verstraete, General Manager of Microtherm: “Insulating with VIP is the answer for applications with
high insulation requirements in combination with limited space.”
Filip Verstraete, General Manager of Microtherm:
“Insulating with VIP is the answer for applications with high insulation
requirements in comb ination with limited space.”
Website: http://www.microthermgroup.com/
Click here for the full profile of Microtherm in the FCA cleantech guide.
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Coming events
27 Oct 2012 1 Nov 2012
11-13 Nov 2012
17-18 Dec 2012
15-17 Jan 2013
31 Jan 2013 2 Feb 2013
19-21 March 2013
FIT Group Business Trip 'Multi-sectoral - Taiwan'
Presentation VITO/FCA 'Cleantech Industry in Flanders'
Savannah International – Clean Energy Conference.
On 12 November, during the “GCCA Later Stage Awards Gala and Dinner”,
the winners of the 'Later Stage Awards 2012” will be announced
with FCA as a participating cluster member
BSDS - Brussels Sustainable Development Summit 2012 -organised
by VITO, TERI in partnership with the Planetworkshops and FCA
World Future Energy Summit - Abu Dhabi - participation in the
exhibition via FIT
Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2013 (DSDS) - The Global
Challenge of Resource Efficient and Low Carbon Development - organised
by TERI
Cleantech exhibition 'Americana - Montréal' - participation in the
exhibition via FIT
For more information click here
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International collaboration
ECO-Life - Sustainable zero carbon ECO-town developments improving quality of life
across EU
The “ECO-life-project” demonstrates innovative energy concepts in three European countries, with
the aim of transforming urban areas into CO2-neutral regions. The three partners taking part in
the project are: Høje Taastrup in Denmark, Kortrijk in Belgium and Birstonas in Lithuania.
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The project got underway in January 2010 and will come to an end in January 2016. In addition to
realising new, energy-efficient homes and the production of renewable energy, it also sets out to
renovate various types of building in order to ensure that they comply with the very latest building
regulations. The large number of activities taking place for the purpose of demonstration is partly
led by the demand-side (the demonstration of ECO-buildings and rational energy usage) and the
production side (demonstration of the various technologies that exist in the field of renewable
energy). The majority of the activities and the transition process within the three communities will
of course continue, once the project itself has come to an end.
The Goedkope Woning housing association in Kortrijk competed for major funding under the EU's
Concerto scheme for energy-efficient construction in support of an ambitious renovation project.
and the project was ultimately selected from the many applications submitted from a variety of
countries. This was the first time that the funding has been allocated to an organisation from
Flanders.
The specific feature of this Flemish project is that it relates to social housing for rent. The EU's
Concerto initiative mainly focuses on energy-efficient construction and the aim of the ECO-Life
partners is to achieve a widely-adopted 'zero-energy' option for new-build projects (or new-build
projects replacing existing buildings) and a 'low-energy' option for renovation projects.
There can be no doubt that the fact that the Goedkope Woning housing association acts as an
owner-lessor provides a number of major benefits. Almost all of the few passive or CO2-neutral
projects currently underway in Flanders relate to detached homes (for purchase), with the result
that the collective, society-based dimension becomes lost.
The fact that this particular project relates to social housing for rent will therefore help to do away
with the perception that sustainable and ecological initiatives are the sole preserve of private
individuals who have the means to pay for them.
The ECO-Life project also includes an important social aspect. After all, it isn't simply a case of
constructing buildings that fulfiLl a high technical standard; such buildings can only function to
the best advantage if they are located in a liveable district. The project itself therefore devotes a
great deal of attention to the needs of the people that live in the district and offers them a
considerable amount of support to help them learn how to handle the new forms of technology.
The pilot project is of great significance as a means of accelerating the process of constructing
sustainable housing districts in Flanders. For this reason, it is receiving the full support of the
Flemish Government, as well as from all of the cabinets of the relevant ministries. The
construction sector too is backing the project with enthusiasm.
During the six-year period of the project, a considerable amount of consultation will take place
between the European partners, both with regard to the approach and for the purpose of
communication, as well as in order to exchange experiences in the application of new
technologies. The universities from the three participating countries are also making their own
contribution. Alongside the Danish Technological Institute, these also include COWI – DK, the
internationally-renowned and most important engineering consultancy in Scandinavia, with over
3400 employees, which is taking responsibility for the coordination of the project on an
international level. As far as the important partners involved in the project in Kortrijk are
concerned, the Goedkope Woning housing association and Ghent University are joined by BURO
II, the largest architectural practice in Flanders.
All of the partners are involved in a multitude of highly-defined tasks and research initiatives,
within which they are encouraged to share their specialist experience and knowledge and to work
together to achieve the most feasible solutions with the, sometimes very different, contexts that
exist on a local level.
The funding being provided to Belgium under the EU's Concerto initiative totals approximately €3
million, and is equivalent to 10% of the cost of investing in the construction of 220 homes and
apartments. The project must be finished before the end of 2015 and the first phase, consisting of
82 newly-built apartments, be ready for occupation as soon as 2013.
For more information: http://www.ecolife-project.eu/
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Cleantech investments
In this edition we will be focusing on a few interesting investments in the Belgian cleantech sector in
the first half of 2012.
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The absolute winner is an investment of 333 million euros in Northwind by the European Investment
Bank. Northwind is owned by the shareholders Colruyt Group and Aspiravi and will start constructing a
gigantic offshore wind farm of 216 MW off the Belgian coast in early 2013. The project involves a total
investment of about 900 million euros, and many national and foreign investors and banks are part of
it. It is the largest investment by far this year in Belgium. Frank Coenen, CEO of Northwind, was also
involved in the successful construction of the first phase of the Belwind offshore wind project on the
Blighbank two years ago. GeoSea and Tideway, both subsidiaries of DEME, have been named for the
construction of the foundations and the cables of the wind farm.
Company
Investors
Northwind
Electrawinds
Amplidata
Europese Investeringsbank
Rabobank Group
Big Bang Ventures
Endaevour Vision,
Intel Capital, Swisscom
Gimv,
Innogy Venture Capital
Capricorn Venture Partners,
Gimv, SFPI-FPIM
Greenwatt
Novopolymers
Amount
(million EUR)
333
39,5
6,4
Sector
(according to
Cleantech Group)
Wind
Wind
Energie-Efficiency
6,3
Biomass
5,7
Solar Energy
Table 1 The five largest investments in Belgian cleantech companies in the first half of 2012 (source: Cleantech Group
i3 platform)
The renewable energy sector, especially solar energy, also attracts the largest number of investments
worldwide, followed by energy efficiency and transport and mobility.
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Flanders international
Some achievements of Flemish cleantech companies on the international stage
Merger with a German investment fund is the basis for the stock market flotation of
Electrawinds
The Flemish energy company Electrawinds based in Oostende is to be listed on the stock
exchange, which will provide the much-needed capital to support the company’s ongoing growth.
A merger with the German investment fund European Clean Tech (ECT) has brought about a
breakthrough in the hunt for additional capital. Electrawinds will first be listed on the Frankfurt
stock exchange and later on the Brussels stock exchange. This should provide the Flemish
company with 95 million euros in fresh capital which can be used to further develop and build
renewable energy projects in the international market.
Belgian market leader Ikaros Solar enters the Indian market
Ik aros Solar, one of the leading players in Belgium in the photovoltaic mark et, has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian company Intelux Electronics Pvt Ltd. The two
companies will, in future, supply photovoltaic energy solutions to the Indian mark et as a clean,
reliable alternative to using diesel for electricity production. The partnership between the two
companies was facilitated by the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC). The
Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the Conference on Renewable Energy – Policy
Regulation, Technology and Finance in India. This was organised by the EBTC and the Council
of EU Chambers of Commerce in India.
Mr Yves Devis, CEO of Ik aros Solar said, “We are incredibly proud to be work ing together with
Intelux, and look forward to building up a solid business in India by providing technology to
generate clean energy.”
Ducatt, Emrol and Waterleau selected as finalists for the GCCA Later Stage Award 2012
Flemish businesses Ducatt, Emrol and Waterleau have been nominated on recommendation of
FCA by the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) in the Later Stage Award 2012 Global
Top 30. A mention in the GCCA2012 TOP 30 underlines both the growth and market position of
these companies. This also illustrates the role of FCA in supporting its members and
encouraging the growth of these innovative cleantech companies both in Flanders and abroad.
EcoNation and VITO on the shortlist of ten candidates for the EEP award 2012
The EEP Award is an annual European award for innovations in the environmental technology
sector, presented by the European Environmental Press (EEP), a partnership of 17 European
environmental periodicals. In this way the EEP aims to place European environmental innovations
in the spotlight and support them.
EcoNation was selected for its innovative ‘LightCatcher Light Energy’ service, in which the
company itself invests in their customers’ energy conservation. EcoNation places LightCatcher
light domes on roofs, providing full investment, monitoring energy yields and sharing the profits
with the customer.
VITO is also competing for the EEP award with CellSense technology, a cost-effective system
that enables the voltage of each individual cell of a fuel cell to be measured. This makes it
possible to accurately measure the effective operation of the individual cells, the stacks of fuel
cells, and by extension, the whole power station.
DEME Blue Energy takes part in the construction of a 100 MW tidal energy project
A consortium formed by DEME Blue Energy and DP Marine Energy has been awarded a contract
for the construction of 100 turbines of 1 MW each off the north-western coast of County Antrim,
near Fair Head, in Northern Ireland. The consortium’s ambition is to gain a leading position in the
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field of off-shore energy in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but also the rest of Europe and
beyond. Generating electricity from tidal energy has one major advantage compared with solar or
wind energy: the high degree of predictability.
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