Geothermal well being drilled for sports complex heating supply in Bredene, Belgium
Geothermal drilling at the site of the LAGO Bredene Grasduinen in Breden, Belgium (source: Municipality of Bredene)
Carlo Cariaga
16 Mar 2026
Geothermal drilling is ongoing for the future heat supply of the new LAGO Bredene Grasduinen swimming and sports complex in Bredene, Belgium.
Drilling is currently ongoing for a geothermal well to supply heating to the LAGO Bredene Grasduinen swimming and sports complex in the municipality of Bredene, Belgium. The system will be supplied by a single-well geothermal solution, drilled to a depth of 1250 meters, which is ideally suited for urban and space-constrained locations.
The drilling is expected to last two months. The downhole heat exchanger will then be installed in the borehole by March. Barring any setbacks, the system is expected to be operational by April.
The Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) is providing scientific support to the swimming pool group LAGO for the project. The technical installations were designed by the Leuven-based architecture and engineering firm Artabel, which also specializes in public swimming pools and sports infrastructure. The geothermal project is coordinated and partially executed by the Dutch company NotusPiD.
The single-well design was selected to help reduce the above-ground impact of the project and lengthen its lifespan. Cold water will descend through a heat exchanger down the borehole, which will then be heated in the deep subsurface that remains at temperatures of 25 to 30 °C. Heat pumps will then raise the temperature of the fluids before being supplied to the sports and swimming pool facilities. Majority of the electricity needed by the system will be supplied by solar panels that completely cover the roof of the facility.
Through the combination of efficient technical installations, a deep heat source, and a large solar park, the total energy consumption of the sports complex will remain limited to 1700 MWh per year. This is despite setting a target of 124,000 visitors and 200,000 swimmers annually, while keeping open for 360 days in a year. With a 50% reduction in energy consumption per visitor, the LAGO Bredene Grasduinen is setting a new benchmark for sustainability in swimming and sports centers.
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Source: Bredene
