ECW Energy has received permission to drill a fourth geothermal doublet in the Dutch town Middenmeer. This is apparent from a draft environmental permit from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. The doublet is expected to be operational in 2023.
ECW still has an old SDE subsidy decision for the plans. And that's a good thing, because according to Kielstra, under the current subsidy regime, it is very difficult to get support for geothermal energy, he tells Energeia. "While the electricity grid squeaks and creaks, you hardly get support for new heating projects. That is almost improper management."
Meanwhile, an imminent new Mining Act doesn't make drilling any easier either. Both ECW Energy and the sector organization Geothermie Nederland have reacted critically to this.
Source: Geothermie Nederland / Energeia