Utrecht in the Netherlands wants to utilise geothermal for sustainable heat supply
View over Utrecht from the Cathedral (source: flickr/ Thomas van de Weerd, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
22 Dec 2017
The province and municipality of Utrecht in the Netherlands looks at geothermal energy as an option to clean up its heat supply. Together with its partners, it is now seeking a government subsidy that could help get early studies off the ground.
The province and municipality of Utrecht has announced plans to use geothermal energy to make the heat supply in the city more sustainable. That is why the region will soon submit an application for a subsidity to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The plan is to start exploration for geothermal heat at an estimated depth of 3,000 meters.
This is what Engie Services Nederland, one of the partners in the project, reports. Other partners in the geothermal project are TNO, Eneco, Energie Beheer Nederland, Huisman, Well Engineering & Partners, IF Technology and Utrecht University.
If the subsidy application is successful, both the municipality and the province of Utrecht will invest another EUR 300,000 ($354,000) in the project.
Before exploration activities in Utrecht it is though necessary to conduct further research into the resource and its potential. There is currently little known on the possible resources beneath Utrecht, says Engie Services. That is why an analysis of the underground is necessary.
If the subsurface resources are promising, a test drilling will be carried out. Where the test drilling will take place is unknown. However, the north or east of Utrecht seems the most suitable, since a connection can then be made with the heating network.
In March 2018, it will be announced whether the subsidy will be awarded.
Source: Duurzaam Bedrijfsleven
