Genk accelerates its path to climate neutrality: from plans to action
The city of Genk is stepping up its efforts toward a climate-neutral future. Through a renewed cooperation agreement with EnergyVille, the city is shifting its focus from strategic planning to concrete implementation.
GEENKOOL
Since 2020, the City of Genk and EnergyVille have worked together within GEENKOOL, Genk’s Energy Coalition. In partnership with VITO, they developed a transition roadmap to make Genk climate neutral by 2050. This collaboration has now been renewed for the period 2026–2031. During these years, EnergyVille will support the city in turning long-term plans into tangible projects, implemented step by step.
Addressing heat, drought and smart energy use
“The cooperation now goes further than before,” explains Alderman for Sustainability Karel Kriekemans. “In addition to renewable energy and sustainable heating, we are focusing on home renovations, supporting businesses in their sustainability efforts, and making smarter use of data to guide our decisions.”
Water management and adaptation to heat and drought are also gaining importance. The city can rely on VITO’s water and climate experts for this work. EnergyVille will also contribute to the development of Genk’s Climate Plan 2050 and the accompanying climate dashboard.
Greater comfort, lower costs
EnergyVille provides its expertise to municipal services and actively contributes to the implementation and monitoring of climate policy. Each year, the city and its partners will determine priority actions, ensuring flexibility to respond to new developments. For Genk residents, this means continued investment in energy-efficient housing, affordable and sustainable solutions, and a living environment better equipped to cope with climate change. In the long term, the goal is clear: more comfort at home and lower energy bills.
Energy from former mine shafts
“We are proud, as EnergyVille and VITO, to help shape Genk’s energy and climate strategy,” says Leen Govaerts, board member of EnergyVille and director at VITO. “We connect sustainability with economic development, taking into account the needs of families and businesses — from supporting affordable renovations to making energy from wind, solar power and former mining galleries available to Genk’s residents.”
To support this partnership, the City of Genk will provide EnergyVille with annual funding of €45,000 from 2026 through 2030, and €33,750 in 2031 – a total of €258,750 over the full period.
With this renewed agreement, Genk and EnergyVille reaffirm their long-term commitment to building a sustainable, climate-neutral city by 2050.
