One part of the Regiodeal Project Euregional Sustainability Center was to investigate what
obstacles hinder the development of cross-border renewable energy projects. In cooperation
with regional stakeholders the ultimate aim was to use the research results to stimulate
practical cross-border projects.
In this report, the obstacles to cross-border projects will be presented directly related to the
developments at the German-Dutch border. The ESC researchers organised several
workshops and discussed with experts from municipalities what type of cross-border projects
were seen as essential to achieve regional renewable energy objectives on both sides of the
border. It was also discussed what type of problem the stakeholders experienced with respect
to earlier project ideas. After these talks, it became clear that in particular in South Limburg
there were several plans for cross-border projects with German partners. The research also
showed the reason why in South Limburg there is more need for cross-border cooperation
than in the North. In South Limburg, there are serious problems to achieve the renewable
energy objectives that are laid down in the Regional Energy Strategy (RES) of South Limburg.
According the monitoring of the RES, it is very unlikely that the objectives of the installed
capacities for the year 2030 are met. This is different in the North, were the objectives of the
RES for North and Mid Limburg are in reach. In South Limburg, the problems are related for
instance to the restrictions due to the Einstein telescope and the halt to wind park permits.
Meaning that there are limited resources and geographical options on the Dutch side. Hence,
the ESC researchers concluded that there is a relevant case for cross-border projects: it is an
urgent need to use cross-border capacities to achieve renewable energy objectives in
Limburg. The practical workshops led to an engagement of ESC researchers in the
preparation of a concrete renewable energy project, namely the Cross_Heat Interreg project
aiming at a connection of district heating networks in Kerkrade/Landgraf and Herzogenrath.
The results of the Regiodeal project will support the work of Cross_Heat during the next 3
years. The researchers will also in the future support the analysis of other projects ideas in
the field of electricity connections that are presented in this report.
