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Greenhouse operations driving geothermal development in the Netherlands

Greenhouse operations driving geothermal development in the Netherlands Greenhouse tomatoes (source: flickr/ lwpkommunikacio, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 17 Sep 2015

The Netherlands largest geothermal heating plant has started operation and shows how greenhouse operations are driving geothermal development in the Netherlands.

Horticulture operations seem to be a key driver for geothermal activities in the Netherlands. With several projects looking at geothermal district heating, it are greenhouse operators that are pushing things forward. Another project has now started operation in the North of the Netherlands. the site features four geothermal wells drilled to a depth of 2,300 meters, seven kilometers of underground pipes, eight heat exchangers, 90 degree temperature water and provides about 20% of the heat demand of horticulture for the company. That about sums up the geothermal heating station at Agriport A7.

“The new plant is the largest geothermal energy station in the Netherlands, both in heat production and the number of wells. The station will fill a fifth of the heat demand of the connected greenhouse businesses. In order to transfer the heat from the saline groundwater to the heat network, eight heat exchangers have been placed.”, according to HortiDaily.

According to Robert Kielstra, CEO of the energy company at Agriport A7, operating a geothermal project differs from that of windmills or solar panels. “It’s not a matter of simply hooking the thing on. There is much more to it.” Kielstra furthermore said, that the technique is promising, but it is hard work to make it happen. “We have to work with open source knowledge, because the projects are too expensive otherwise.”

It seems to be a common theme that greenhouse operators join forces to utilize geothermal heating for greenhouse operations and a smart way to make these projects go.

Source: HortiDaily