Shared Ground

The Shared Ground project investigates how public space can be leveraged for the collective extraction and distribution of renewable (geothermal) energy; and how the resulting energy systems can form the backbone of an inclusive energy infrastructure for urban areas such as Brussels.

Shared Ground identifies strategies to link boreholes in public space to residential buildings, including those occupied by vulnerable households and tenants. Besides advancing carbon reduction and limiting the urban heat island effect, this model allows for equitable energy access, as it significantly reduces the dependency on private investment capacity and the individual availability of open space. The accompanying redesign of public space will be used as an opportunity to sustainably connect the neighbourhood.

Through a participatory co-design process, the project will map the needs of key urban stakeholders – such as municipalities and vulnerable households – to develop a replicable framework for shared, low-carbon infrastructure. The goal is to provide a technically, legally, and financially feasible solution that addresses energy inequality while strengthening both environmental performance and neighbourhood cohesion.

For more information, email us at contact@swifft.be.