Assignment Participation Manager Heat - Driebergen (Wildbaan/Dennenburg)
Client: project group Heat Supply (Municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug, NabijWonen, HDSR, Heuvelrug Energie, local resident)
Period: August/September - December 2025 (possible extension January 2026)
Maximum remuneration: €25,500 (excl. VAT)
Interviews: July 29, 2025 (in Doorn)


What is it about?
The Wildbaan/Dennenburg neighborhood is exploring whether residents want to connect to a collective heat supply (heat network). The project group is looking for a participation manager to organize, supervise and report on this process together with the residents. More background can be found below under 'Context'

The central question is:
Under what conditions are residents willing to connect to the heat grid?
And if they don't want to: why not?

What are you going to do?

• You prepare a participation plan, including strategy for hard-to-reach target groups;
• You implement the participation plan. You actively go out into the neighborhood, incl conversations, sessions and actions through which residents can share their preferences, conditions and concerns;
• You will work with a construction engineering consultant who will identify technical barriers and provide solutions;
• You review interim results with residents;
• You will deliver a report and public release with conclusions, rationale and recommendations for follow-up.

• Has experience with participation in energy transition or other complex social issues;

• Can work in a planned as well as hands-on manner;
• Is strong in communication and is empathetic toward residents;
• has a lasting connection to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug region.

Knowledge of heat networks is a plus. Enthusiasm about sustainable heat is a must.

Results
- Participation plan (Aug/Sept)
- Implementation + review (Sept-Dec)
- Reporting + evaluation (Dec/Jan)

More details about the assignment and the concrete expected products can be found in the annex 'Assignment description'


Context:

In 2019, the municipality, NabijWonen, HDSR and HE took the initiative to
explore whether heat from the e􀆯luent of 'RWZI Driebergen' can be utilized to heat the
Wildbaan/Dennenburg neighborhood in Driebergen-Rijsenburg.
A PAW application was made in 2020, based on a technical feasibility study
and a participation process. Utilizing heat then proved technically feasible, but
not financially viable. The PAW application was supposed to fill that gap. This application
was not honored and the project came to a halt.
In 2022, the desire was again expressed to utilize heat anyway. The urgency became
greater, it is still technically possible and heat networks play an important role
in the heat transition. In the meantime, it had also been determined in the Transition Vision Warmte by the municipality
that we explore the possibilities of utilizing heat from
the RWZI Driebergen.
In 2023 a feasibility study was carried out by DWA (will be provided when commissioned
) and in 2024 a participation trajectory was followed, both with USETsubsidy
from the province of Utrecht. The feasibility study was broader in scope than
just heat from e􀆯luent: the possibilities for heating this district
were investigated. Heat from e􀆯luent turned out to be the only collective option, via
(Z)LT (15-20oC) and via MT/HT (70 oC). Participation showed that there was no resistance
to this, but that local residents would not be willing/able to choose a preferred variant until they had
insight into the work required on their own homes and the costs
thereof, insofar as these would be borne by the homeowner.
In 2024/2025 a project plan was drawn up to arrive at a preferred variant,
of which the design could be made and the business case calculated, so that
more insight into the financial feasibility would be gained. In 2025 it became clear that
grid congestion will stand in the way of a large consumer connection for the next 10 years.
This means that we have to take this into account in the design phase (own
electricity generation supply needed) and that this has consequences for the
business case and support (if a natural gas-fired CHP is needed, an explanation is needed to the
neighborhood as to why this is a good step towards natural gas-free after all).