As we have explained on previous occasions, this European project includes nine case studies in different parts of Europe focused on promoting and analyzing the technical, economic, financial and social viability of heating and cooling network projects. One of the key aspects of this project is the emphasis on citizen participation, and for this reason it seeks to articulate what Europe calls “Living Labs”, which we have renamed here as “living laboratories” (living labs). 

In the case of Les Masies de Voltregà, the analysis considers the use of residual heat from La Farga, a local industry that, despite providing data, has so far declined to be part of the participatory process. The driving group of the Living Lab – Les Masies is formed by the local community Voltregà Energia, as the promoter of the initiative, OECOOP, Suno as an expert engineer in heating and cooling networks (C/F) and the Masies town hall. As for the extended group of entities of the Lab Viu that we described at the beginning, it meets twice a year to analyze and discuss the progress of the project.

At the beginning of 2026, Voltregà Energia plans to add new local cultural, recreational and sports entities to the Lab Viu de les Masies, and in the spring to organize a meeting open to citizens and entities of Vinyoles, the municipality and the adjacent municipalities. The Voltreganès is a sub-region of Osona formed by the municipalities of les Masies, Sant Hipòlit, Santa Cecília de Voltregà and Orís that has a total population of close to 7,500 inhabitants. The configuration of the area, with several population centers, scattered farmhouses and industrial estates, is so rich that it could even advise the promotion of one or several Xarxes C/F initiatives.

The European MUSE project also aims to launch an equivalent initiative, in principle, in Torelló, although we are waiting for the city council to make it concrete, which we hope will lead it with the support of PescaEnergia, the local energy community.