VUB innovation hub Green Energy Park offers state-of-the-art living labs

GEP director Inne Peersman: “Every research group at the VUB is welcome to join us. We offer them a highly motivated and passionate team that listens to their specific needs and expectations. We then look at how we can support them with the existing state-of-the-art living labs or with the living labs of tomorrow. We now have living labs for energy and climate and we are about to create a living lab for health.

"So there is always a direct or indirect link as a researcher to the studies that are already taking place here."

“The collaboration with our living labs is only part of the story. We also want to find space for new researchers and are working with companies and federations to see how we can align their research with the market. A lot of businesses and schools that are interested in innovation and in co-creation come here. We want to support the research groups in that too, because they don’t always have the time or network themselves. In addition to the fields of energy, mobility, climate, environment and health, there is also research being carried out here on robots, AI and electronics. So researchers can always find a direct or indirect link to the work already taking place here.

“Today, with the data centre, we have 10,000 m² at our disposal, but there is still a lot to be added. Once our lab building is there – in late 2025 or early 2026 – there will be an immense amount of space added. And more buildings will follow. We will open the data centre on 7 May.”

Professor Hubert Rahier leads the Reconstruct research group: “Today, the purpose of a building changes very quickly: just think of office spaces or residential care centres, where practices and rules change every 10 years and a building has to be adapted to keep it habitable. So it’s cheaper to work with a system where the space is modular, using mobile elements. We are also developing a new ecological floor panel. Steel is usually used to reinforce concrete; we are replacing that with textile for a number of reasons. You can make much thinner panels, it is not flammable and it insulates sound better. The idea is to make a structure whose concrete will be almost carbon neutral. We are doing that with our second project, Tecaton, where we are replacing cement with an alternative binder.

“Tecaton started on 1 March. Among other things, the project focuses on taking cement out of the production process. To do so, we are developing innovative concrete based on alkali-activated cement, which incorporates ground granulated blast furnace and biomass ashes. With that material, we can save 80% of carbon emissions compared to ordinary cement.”

“In addition, we offer a truly interdisciplinary approach. For example, we always evaluate the sustainability of technologies and products through our unique life cycle analysis (LCA) software models with six LCA experts. After the sustainability screening, we work with industry to see how to reduce environmental impact, avoid the use of critical materials and improve social impact in the supply chain. In doing so, we certainly don’t overlook the economic feasibility of new technology,” said EVERGI director Professor Maarten Messagie.

Thierry Coosemans: “Our presence at the GEP has enabled us to participate in a number of European projects. Thanks to GEP, we have also been able to develop and validate knowledge around energy management and smart charging of vehicles using renewable resources as much as possible. The intention is now to be able to develop algorithms and technologies at the Smart Village Lab through the use of renewable gases as part of energy management. We are unique in this in Flanders. It will undoubtedly be an advantage in bringing in new projects.”