Partner presentation: Heijmans Energie

Heijmans Energie was established in 2019 because the energy position is changing and more and more local energy must be used in everything we build. That is why the Legofit programme fits in well with our development of energy-positive houses (EPH) into an energy-positive districts (PED).

Heijmans Energie is part of Heijmans NV, a listed company active in property development, construction & technical services, and infrastructure across the domains of Living, Working and Connecting. With a strong focus on quality, innovation and integrated solutions, Heijmans creates added value for clients ranging from private homeowners to companies and public authorities, shaping the built environment of tomorrow.

Founded in 2019, Heijmans Energie was established in response to the changing energy landscape, where local energy generation and consumption play an increasingly important role in how we design and build. This is why the LEGOFIT programme aligns closely with our ambition to evolve from energy-positive homes (EPH) to energy-positive districts (PED).

Heijmans Energie provides sustainable energy solutions for the built environment, covering the development, implementation, maintenance and operation of energy systems. By combining technical expertise and practical experience, we accelerate the energy transition and help create a healthier living environment for all. As part of Heijmans, we build on many years of knowledge in both the energy sector and the construction market.

We deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable energy systems for new developments as well as existing buildings. Whether for single homes, residential blocks or district-scale projects, we offer tailor-made solutions that integrate multiple renewable sources and match local energy demand. Our ambition is to supply CO₂-neutral energy, help prevent grid congestion, and provide predictable and attractive tariffs to end users.

You can explore our approach through this example project.

Learn more about our vision for impactful local energy systems here.

• Role of your organization in the project:
  Our contribution to LEGOFIT focuses on making energy-positive housing a reality through the development and construction of a full-scale pilot. Beyond designing and building the homes, we continue to play a key role by monitoring and processing the data collected on site. This information is essential for all LEGOFIT partners, as it enables real-life validation of the project’s solutions. Through our Waterviolier pilot in Nuenen, we provide a tangible demonstration that reinforces the consortium’s work with real operational insights.The Dutch pilot is being developed by the publicly traded construction company Heijmans. It comprises 17 single-family dwellings, including two sets of semi-detached homes and four rows of terraced houses. Each home is equipped with a heat pump, HEMS, solar panels, battery system, and, in five homes, an EV charger—making it a fully representative environment for testing future energy-positive communities.
• Why is Legofit important to your organization/pilot site?
  In the Netherlands, the electrical grid is reaching its capacity limits. The transition from gas-based heating to electric solutions is driving energy demand faster than the grid can be expanded. As a result, the Netherlands is one of the leading EU countries facing grid congestion. This makes grid relief a crucial topic not only nationally, but also across Europe, and a key reason why LEGOFIT’s solutions are relevant for all EU member states. The project addresses the challenge of building energy-efficient housing without placing excessive strain on electricity networks.Government incentives over the past decade have strongly encouraged solar panel installation, which has led to large peaks of energy production on sunny days, especially in summer. Instead of reducing the pressure on the grid, this has intensified it by creating peak supply periods that the infrastructure cannot absorb. With these challenges expected to grow in the coming years, local energy solutions that reduce dependence on the grid have become essential and may even become mandatory for future construction. The Netherlands plans to build one million new homes within the next decade, a goal that can only be achieved if local renewable energy is managed intelligently. LEGOFIT supports these ambitions by helping us evolve from Energy-Positive Homes (EPH) to Energy-Positive Districts (PEDs).To stay ahead of the market, Heijmans aims to be one of the first construction companies in the Netherlands capable of delivering homes that actively relieve the grid. Achieving this requires testing the impact of solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging infrastructure on households’ electrical connections. Without proper control, adding new electric devices increases demand during peak hours. With a Home Energy Management System (HEMS), however, demand and production can be balanced according to grid capacity. A market-ready HEMS had to be selected due to the planned handover of the homes in January 2025. After initial challenges integrating building energy devices with the HEMS within LEGOFIT, the smart system has been fully operational since May 2025.
  LEGOFIT is therefore helping us take the next step: moving from individual energy-positive buildings to smart, energy-positive districts that contribute to a more resilient grid.
• Main objectives of your pilot site in LEGOFIT project
  
  Our main objective is to research, construct and operate an energy-positive home, considering every step required to make it work in real life. This process begins with understanding residents’ energy needs and ends with integrating a smart energy system that can be scaled to larger developments. By applying the lessons learned through the LEGOFIT project, we aim to transfer this knowledge to all future housing we build, ensuring a broader impact and enabling the construction of even more sustainable homes.The goal is not only to deliver a successful pilot, but to truly understand how to scale it: what works, what should be improved, and which choices lead to the best long-term results. This real-world project in Nuenen, inhabited by actual residents, provides valuable insights that will guide our future developments and help accelerate the transition towards energy-positive districts.
• Expectations from LEGOFIT:We are already experiencing the benefits of collaborating with EU partners, sharing expertise, and gaining insights that are essential to accelerating the development of energy-positive homes. The knowledge and hands-on experience gained from the demonstration projects is proving highly valuable. In particular, the integration of BIM and the creation of a digital twin are becoming key components of our daily work.As the project continues, we expect to keep learning from all partners while also contributing our own experience from the pilot. This mutual exchange is helping us work together toward a more sustainable energy future—one we are proud to support through LEGOFIT. The future looks promising.