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Geothermal heat project kicked of at Maasdijk, Netherlands

Geothermal heat project kicked of at Maasdijk, Netherlands Maasdijk project kick off (source: Aardwarmte Maasdijk)
Alexander Richter 14 Mar 2022

The geothermal heat project by HVC in Maasdijk, Netherlands was kicked off last week with the target of providing sustainable geothermal heating to local greenhouse operations.

With first work on drilling on site, Pieter Varekamp, ??alderman for energy transition of the municipality of Westland, Netherlands, gave the go-ahead for the Maasdijk geothermal project last week. The project is mainly aimed at horticulture companies in the region, who choose to heat 430 hectares of greenhouses sustainably. It also focuses on residents who no longer want to use natural gas. Conductors have already been placed at the construction site at a depth of 145 meters to enable the next phase – drilling.

In addition to the alderman, Dion van Steensel (general director of HVC) and Jacco Besuijen (chairman of the board of the Maasdijk heat cooperative) were also present at the kick-off. As executor and investor of the project, HVC contributes to the realization of the heat transition in the Westland. This is done in collaboration with the Maasdijk heat cooperative.

Geothermal heat Maasdijk is a collaboration between the Maasdijk heat cooperative and HVC with the aim of stimulating and realizing sustainable heat for and with greenhouse horticulture companies in the Westland. “With our members, we look for affordable alternatives that reduce the use of fossil fuels. We endorse the need for sustainability and, as growers, we want to put our shoulders to the wheel together with HVC,” says Jacco Besuijen of the growers’ cooperative.

HVC always develops a geothermal source in collaboration with the municipality and the immediate vicinity. We look for a suitable location together. Dion van Steensel: “After all, there must be enough space both above and below ground. It is also being examined whether there are sufficient customers who can use geothermal energy.”

For the past two years, residents living near the geothermal heat location have been involved in the development of a possible geothermal heat project. As the realization of the 6 geothermal wells gets closer, consultation with local residents will be intensified further.

Alderman Pieter Varekamp states that geothermal energy is a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy source. “We started using geothermal energy in Westland on the basis of sustainability. And given the uncertainty, both availability and price of current fossil sources, geothermal energy is now even more interesting. With the start of work on the geothermal source and the realization of the heat cluster, geothermal energy will become widely available. And that is good for the future of greenhouse horticulture in Westland.”

“HVC has also opened an office in De Lier. The heat of a residential area is relatively small in relation to greenhouse horticulture. Linking a residential area to a heating system can certainly be interesting. Collaborations that stimulate horticulture, project developers, the municipality of Westland and HVC. With the opening of the office, we underline our approach”, says Dion van Steensel.

With geothermal energy, hot water is pumped from the ground and used to heat homes, greenhouses and buildings. This requires 2 wells, also known as a double. At one well, water is pumped up, where a heat exchanger extracts the heat. The cooled water goes back into the ground via the other well. The heat is distributed via the local heat network for use in homes, buildings and greenhouses. Of course this is done in a safe way. With the Industry Standard Sustainable Well Design, the sector guarantees that you can extract geothermal energy safely and responsibly without risk to the drinking water supply.

Geothermal energy in Naaldwijk

HVC has previously realized the Trias Westland geothermal heat project with two geothermal sources at a depth of 2.3 kilometers in Naaldwijk in collaboration with various parties. Trias Westland is a geothermal energy company by and for entrepreneurs in the Westland greenhouse horticulture. We supply the heat produced from Trias Westland to horticulturalists and homes (Lierkwartier) in the immediate vicinity. The collaboration with entrepreneurs in the approach of Trias Westland has resulted in widespread support among greenhouse horticulture companies, governments and financiers.

Source: Aardwarmte Maasdijk