Within the project heat network-WERKEN Kempen, IOK and local authorities want to build the bridge between the potential clusters for collective heat that have been put on the map by prior research and the effective realization of these collective heat projects on site. Given the limited regulated market context, local authorities have an essential role to play. In addition, they are driven to act quickly to avoid suboptimal steps in the heat transition. The finality of the project is to work towards the socially best possible sustainable heat solutions. In order to facilitate the first steps towards concrete investments, the process-based, technical and legal challenges are great. Many Kempen municipalities are at this crucial point and are explicitly looking to IOK to support them in these complex implementation processes. The project therefore focuses on guiding the municipalities towards the realisation of collective heat projects. This means, on the one hand, that parties for grid construction, heat production and supply must be able to be found and engaged. What should a cooperation agreement look like, what risks lie with which party, how do we engage the most suitable parties for grid construction, heat production and supply of heat, .... All this within a framework of public procurement. The diversity of heat clusters and the different context of the potential cases make this technically and legally challenging. The desired role or participation of local authorities must also be carefully clarified in order to build sustainable and stable cooperation with the actors involved. In addition, the relevant future heat collectors must also be approached. Stable business cases of course require that this collectivity will also effectively form on the ground. Finally, there is a high share of municipal patrimony within the various clusters. Where steps are still necessary to prepare buildings for connection to sustainable heat and collective heat networks, this is also controlled. This complex starting position is pioneering work: a time horizon of 2-3 years is used for final contracting through public procurement of key partners and investors. With this output, the shift to effective investment is definitive and irreversible. This results in a ‘spade in the ground’ of local heat clusters at 3 to 5 years. The lessons learned regarding the elimination of bottlenecks based on various variants in this project will provide inspiration and guidance in the Kempen and the rest of Flanders. We are therefore committed to knowledge sharing. The immediate added value is the realization of substantial CO2 reduction due to the immediate connection of the clusters to renewable sources. Indirectly, the CO2 reduction is even greater, especially in urban areas with a view to a city-wide network. The clusters act as ‘pilots’. The realisation of a first, possibly smaller cluster often proves to be a crucial stepping stone in trust towards the larger whole. Taking action on the ground now is crucial to work towards the most socially optimal vision for the future and to exploit as many collective opportunities as possible.