The Smart Cities Marketplace is supporting the Municipality of Kortrijk in Belgium in advancing a flagship clean energy project through its tailored technical assistance offer. Selected through the March 2026 call, the city is receiving dedicated 1-on-1 consultancy to help bring forward its plan to establish a cooperative local energy company and deploy energy clusters.
Kortrijk, a regional city in South-West Flanders with around 81,000 inhabitants, has long demonstrated its commitment to climate neutrality through its strategic climate plan, the Kortrijk Green Deal. As a signatory to regional Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SEAP and SECAP), the city is actively pursuing renewable energy deployment, building renovation, sustainable mobility and innovative energy solutions.
The project supported by the Smart Cities Marketplace builds on this strong foundation as well as previous experience gained through initiatives such as the Interreg NWE Heatnet project and the Interreg North Sea Region Waterwarmth project. These earlier efforts enabled the city to develop spatial energy plans, pilot heat grids and feasibility studies for next-generation district heating systems. With political backing and funding already secured, Kortrijk is now moving towards implementation and is seeking to establish a cooperative structure to drive local energy production and distribution.
At this advanced stage of maturity, the project already benefits from a defined technical concept and business case. The technical assistance provided by the Smart Cities Marketplace will therefore be focused on strengthening its financial underpinnings and preparing it for investment. In close collaboration with city representatives, experts are supporting the development of a robust financing strategy, including decisions on financing structures and the balance between equity and debt.
A central element of the support is the refinement of the project’s financial model. This includes validating key assumptions, clarifying the investment and financing plan, assessing risks and identifying mitigation measures to align the project with the expectations of lenders and investors. In parallel, the consultancy is helping the city prepare for engagement with potential financiers by developing a clear investment proposition and identifying relevant funding partners.
The technical assistance follows a structured process, beginning with an assessment of the current project status and available documentation, and continuing with targeted support on financing strategy, financial modelling and investor engagement. The collaboration will culminate in a final report summarising the findings and recommendations, supporting Kortrijk in taking the next steps towards implementation.
This example highlights how the Smart Cities Marketplace provides hands-on, project-specific support to cities that are ready to move beyond planning and into delivery. By addressing key barriers to financing and investment, the initiative helps transform well-developed project concepts into bankable opportunities, accelerating the deployment of sustainable energy solutions across Europe.