Voorschoten: Natural Gas-Free

The municipality of Voorschoten is preparing for the future: a natural gas-free Voorschoten by 2050. One of the challenges we face until then is making the municipality CO₂-neutral. This means that, ultimately, we want to stop using natural gas in all homes and offices in the municipality and switch to sustainable alternatives. The transition from natural gas to another sustainable heat source in Voorschoten won’t happen overnight. Nor is the same solution feasible for every neighbourhood in Voorschoten. We’re working in various ways to make homes more sustainable. Here you can read about the projects we’re currently carrying out.

Transition Vision Heat

In 2021, the municipality drafted a general plan outlining how Voorschoten will transition from natural gas to sustainable heat in the future: the Heat Transition Vision. The main goal of this vision is for the municipality of Voorschoten to be carbon-neutral by 2050. This is a requirement under the “ Rijksoverheid ” (Climate Act) that every municipality must fulfill. In 2021, the Voorschoten “ municipal council ” (Municipal Executive Committee) adopted the Heat Transition Vision 1.0. This was followed in 2024 by the Heat Transition Vision 1.1. Based on what we know now, these documents outline how and through which Requirements we intend to achieve this goal. At least every five years, an updated Heat Transition Vision will be issued, based on the latest national policies, the latest innovations, and technical and financial knowledge. 

Read more about DE Transition Vision Heat.

More information

Projects

Project: implementation plans per district 

To ultimately make all homes in Voorschoten more sustainable and disconnect them from natural gas, we are developing an implementation plan for each neighborhood, neighbourhood , or cluster of homes that are similar. This plan will outline, for each neighborhood, neighbourhood , or cluster, the available options, what homeowners can do on their own, and what support they will receive. 

The first implementation plan is ready. This is for the Krimwijk district. The municipality took the initiative for this and works closely with residents. As a result, we have a plan that suits the district. Various moments were organized where the municipality and homeowners engaged in discussions. We also conducted home energy scans.  

Project: WarmtelinQ in Voorschoten

A study conducted by the municipality showed that heat from WarmtelinQ could be a viable option as a source for a district heating network (a shared heating system) in large parts of Voorschoten. WarmtelinQ is a pipeline that transports residual heat from the Port of Rotterdam to our region. On July 4, 2024, the Municipal Executive of Voorschoten ( municipal council ) decided to move forward with plans to connect to WarmtelinQ. The municipality then, together with the municipality of Leiden, entered into an agreement with Gasunie (the owner of WarmtelinQ). The agreement states that Gasunie intends to create a connection point on the WarmtelinQ pipeline to which Voorschoten and Leiden can connect.

The route to 2050

The goal is for all homes and offices in 2050 to no longer be heated by natural gas, but in a sustainable manner. Homes currently being built are already natural gas-free. Newer houses are often well insulated and can switch to a natural gas-free heating method with few adjustments. For older homes, that is naturally different. There, insulation and new insulating windows can save a lot of energy. They also make the home much more comfortable. There are three steps with which we want to achieve the goal of a natural gas-free Voorschoten by 2050.

1. Saving Energy
You can save energy by insulating your home and sealing drafts. You might also consider underfloor heating or other forms of low-temperature heating. To determine whether your home is sufficiently insulated to, for example, heat it using an all-electric heat pump, the Dutch Energy Agency ( Rijksoverheid ) developed a measurement method called “The Standard.” This method is used in place of the energy labels we are familiar with.  

2. Choosing the hybrid heat pump as an intermediate solution.
The heat pump supplies the standard heat (the base load) and the gas boiler is for when it is very cold (peak load). The advantage of this system is that natural gas consumption drops immediately. The heat pump also supplies heat with fewer CO2 emissions than a gas boiler.

3. Choose a suitable heating solution based on neighbourhood

There are three options: a district heating network, all-electric, or sustainable gases. Neighborhoods with similar characteristics have been divided into groups. For each neighbourhood , we determine the best solution. This depends not only on technical and economic factors, but also on social and organizational considerations. In the coming years, we will work with residents, housing associations, and businesses to develop implementation plans on a “ neighbourhood ” basis. Homeowners can make their own decisions about their homes; homeowners’ associations make these decisions collectively; and for tenants, the landlord is responsible.

In some places we will get started quickly, other neighbourhoods will follow later. The page on WarmtelinQ contains the general schedule for heat networks. Sustainable gases are currently still uncertain. Whether and when the municipality of Voorschoten can implement this depends on the government.

Do you have any questions?

View the page with frequently asked questions. Is your question not listed? Please send it to duurzaam@voorschoten.nl. If your question is asked more frequently, we will add it to the frequently asked questions. That way everyone benefits!

Documents