Continuing its international expansion, Idex has announced its first major energy infrastructure project in Belgium
Idex is launching its first major energy infrastructure project in Belgium. This is a significant milestone for the Group, which is a key player in the local low-carbon energy market. Working with Veolia and in BW, Idex will support the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) in building, operating and financing a biomass power plant to supply the university with green heat and electricity.
The Group is already well established in France, where it reported exceptionally strong figures this year with turnover of €2.16 billion and EBITDA of €180 million, an increase of 20% over 2023. Today, Idex is ready to build on its success in France as it expands into Europe.
An innovative power plant at the core of the energy transition
Located in Mont-Saint-Guibert, in the French-speaking region of Belgium, the biomass power plant represents a total investment of over €80 million. From winter 2027, it will produce 40 GWh of heat and 55 GWh of electricity every year , meeting almost 100% of the energy needs of the Louvain-la-Neuve campus. Idex is currently the majority shareholder (75%) in GBES – the company dedicated to the project – and is set to take a minority stake in in BW in 2025.
Fuelled by B-wood (also referred to as waste wood) collected from sites including recyparcs (waste recovery centres), the power plant will contribute to the region's energy independence while reducing UCLouvain's carbon footprint. This underlines the commitment made by Idex to use local resources while cutting CO₂ emissions.
A key step in the ongoing development of Idex in Belgium
After starting out in the development of energy infrastructure for residential buildings, Idex is now extending its expertise to other sectors in Belgium with this new biomass power plant. The project paves the way for the deployment of all the Group's business areas in Belgium, primarily heat networks and low-carbon energy production for industrial customers.
With this project, Idex is restating its ambitions to extend its expertise in decarbonisation solutions to new international markets. Relying on local partners and an approach tailored to local needs, Idex is continuing to build the foundations for a sustainable energy future.
